Factors Associated with Overweight and Central Obesity in Adults at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center, Southwest Ethiopia: A Secondary Analysis of Data

Abstract

Introduction: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of premature death and cause serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life and decrease productivity. Studies on factors associated with overweight and central obesity are lacking.Therefore; this study was undertaken to assess factors associated with overweight and central obesity in adults at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. Methods: Source of data was from a community based cross-sectional study conducted from September 2008 to January 2009 using WHO stepwise of stratified random sampling method. All study participants of age 15 to 64 years, who had anthropometric measurements were included in this study. Data were entered into the computer using EPI-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS Windows version 16.0 software. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out and p-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant association. Results: Ninety six percent of study participants were included in the study. Respondents of age, 55-64 years and female sex were more likely to develop overweight and central obesity [(AOR= 8.3; 95%CI, 2.080-33.20), (AOR= 3; 95%CI, 1.37-6.98)] and [(AOR= 2.5; 95%CI, 1.71-3.670), (AOR= 12; 95%CI, 4.27-20.46)] respectively. Higher educational status, urban residence, employee and merchant were more likely to be overweight [(AOR= 6.2; 95%CI, 2.12-17.95), (AOR= 4.2; 95%CI, 2.170-8.180), (AOR= 5.9; 95%CI, 1.66-21.03) and (AOR= 5.4; 95%CI, 1.65-14.8)] respectively. But higher educational status and chewing chat were less likely to became central obese [(AOR= 0.36; 95%CI, 0.210-0.736) and (AOR= 0.44; 95%CI, 0.359-0.548)] respectively. Conclusion: Older age, female sex and higher educational status were independently associated with overweight and central obesity. Current smoker and chewing chat for central obesity and merchant, employee and urban residence for overweight were independently associated. Woreda Health Offices should encourage health facilities to promote prevention and control of overweight and central obesity among females and urban residents. Keywords: Overweight, Central obesity, Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center. DOI : 10.7176/JHMN/63-02 Publication date :June 30 th 2019