Publication:

Obesity and associated factors among the residents of field practice area of urban health centre in North Andhra

Background Obesity is becoming an important public health problem in India. The objectives were to know the prevalence of obesity (generalized obesity, abdominal obesity), to know the difference in prevalence of abdominal obesity with respect to waist circumference and waist hip ratio, to know the factors associated with obesity.

Methods Descriptive cross-sectional study done at field practice area of urban health centre. 306 study subjects (15-65 years) were included into the study. A semi-structured schedule was applied. Body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 was considered as generalized obesity. Waist circumference, waist-hip ratio were calculated.

Results The prevalence of generalized obesity was 35.6%. Abdominal obesity was rose from 56.2% to 76.1% when waist-hip ratio was taken as parameter instead of waist circumference. Most of the study subjects were not physically active.

Conclusions The prevalence of obesity is high among study subjects.