Overweight and obesity among adults attending a medical department

ABSTRACT

In Iraq the data on obesity and overweight are scarce. The aim of this study was to establish data about the occurrence of overweight and obesity in Basrah. This was a cross sectional study with follow up of patients attending the out-patient and in-patient medical clinics of Al-Faiha Hospital in Basrah over the period from May 2003 to April 2004. The total number of patient was 4580, of whom 2556 [55.8%] were men and 2024[44.1%] were women. The study was restricted to people aged 18 years and above with mean age of 44.8 +/- 15.6. Overweight was prevalent among 31.1% with similar patient in males and females, and obesity was seen in 25.4% and was consistently higher among female regardless of grade. The over weight and obese were more likely to be hypertensive, diabetic, having evidence of Q wave myocardial infarction, with visceral obesity, and more likely to develop cancer. The majority [56.6%] of our patients were overweight and obese. Obesity was more frequently found in women. Community based cross sectional studies are needed give a better idea about the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults in Basrah