Publication:

Overweight and obesity in women: prevalence, risk factors, and public health implications

Background The purpose of this study was to determine overweight/obesity frequency, nutritional and health behaviors in women living in a specific region in Turkey.

Methods We conducted the cross-sectional study in which the sample comprised 458 women by analyzing the data acquired from the survey forms questioning nutritional and health behaviors between September 2018 and January 2019.

Results The study found the women’s overweight and obesity rate to be 40.2%. Also, there was a statistically significant correlation between their Body Mass Index levels and the increase in age averages, status of having a medium level of income and being unemployed, and having a chronic illness. In addition, their BMI levels increased with the status of sleeping less than six hours a day, having four and more meals a day, having no tea and coffee a day, having one and more portions of dessert a day, having one to three slices of bread a day, and doing no exercise. There was a statistically significant correlation between (p<0.05).

Conclusions According to our study, women’s nutritional and health behaviors are effective on the development of overweight and obesity. Projects and health educations on nutrition and physical activity to be planned for women can be recommended.