Publication:

Abdominal obesity in primary care

Background Obesity is one of the important challenge in primary care. Abdominal obesity is associated with future cardiovascular disease when compared to non-obese individuals. The objective was to study the prevalence of abdominal obesity in patients attending primary care physician and to analyse abdominal obesity across different age groups and gender.

Methods The study was done as cross-sectional study at primary care centres in and around Pondicherry. Patients visiting primary care physician were included in the study. All adult patients of age more than 18 years, of both sexes visiting the primary care physician were included in study. Pregnant women, patients with abdomen diseases and patients those who are not willing to give written consent for participation in the study were excluded from the study. Demographic profile, anthropometric measurements were recorded. Abdominal circumference of all patients were recorded using a standard measuring tape. Abdominal obesity was diagnosed when the abdominal circumference was more than 90 centimetres in male and more than 80 centimetres in female.

Results A total number of 1030 patients were included in the study. There were 189 patients in age group 60-69. Females 535 outnumbered males 484. In the age group 50-59, 33 (40%) of males and 45 (44%) of females had increased abdominal circumference more than 90 centimetres in males and 80 centimetres in females. Across all age groups 121 (24%) males had abdominal circumference more than 90 centimetres in the study and 147 (28%) females had abdominal circumference more than 80 centimetres.

Conclusions Abdominal obesity is common at primary care level. The prevalence of abdominal obesity is more in females when compared with males. Hence all primary care physicians have to be stressed about the importance of abdominal obesity.