Abstract
Studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Economic Development and Cooperation Organization (OECD) has shown that the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and has become a serious health problem. The Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a commonly used height-weight index to classify overweight and obesity, is calculated by dividing body weight by the square of height (kg/m²). Psychological factors and sociodemographic characteristics are supposed to affect BMI under current living conditions. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between BMI, used in the classification of obesity, sociodemographic characteristics, and various psychological factors in adult. A total of 5,902 individuals (aged 39 and over) completed Sociodemographic Information Form, Body Mass Index Evaluation Form, and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised, Brief Symptom Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Personal Well-Being Index-Adult Form. Utilizing hierarchical regression analysis, obesity and overweight were associated with educational status, number of cigarettes, number of children, negative self in both genders. Obesity and overweight were also associated withpsychiatric distress, alexithymia, and avoidant attachment scores in men. Obesity and overweight were associatedalso with alcohol use, somatization, and positive affect score in women. The results of the study reveal the importance of understanding the factors affecting obesity and addresses the problems in a multidimensional way. However, more studies are needed to better understand the factors associated with obesity in Turkey.
Highlights
Obesity, which is accepted as a complex and multifactorial disease, is the second leading cause of preventable deaths after smoking (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018)
According to estimates made by the NCD-RisC Group (NCD-RisC Risk Factor Collaboration), the prevalence of age-standardized obesity in the adult population aged 18 years and over is 3.2% in men 1975 and 6.4% in women; In 2014, it increased to 10.8% and 14.8%, respectively (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018)
In the study Turkey Diabetes Epidemiology (TURDEP) TURDEP-II according to Body Mass Index (BMI) the prevalence of obesity is designated as 44.0% in women, 27.0% in men and 31.2% in total (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018)
Summary
Obesity, which is accepted as a complex and multifactorial disease, is the second leading cause of preventable deaths after smoking (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018). According to estimates made by the NCD-RisC Group (NCD-RisC Risk Factor Collaboration), the prevalence of age-standardized obesity in the adult population aged 18 years and over is 3.2% in men 1975 and 6.4% in women; In 2014, it increased to 10.8% and 14.8%, respectively (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018). The OECD report states that women are more obese than men, but that BMI increases more rapidly in men (OECD, 2017). The prevalence of obesity growth rate in Turkey has similarities with Western countries. The prevalence of obesity among adults has exceeded the critical rate of 30%. In the study Turkey Diabetes Epidemiology (TURDEP) TURDEP-II according to BMI the prevalence of obesity is designated as 44.0% in women, 27.0% in men and 31.2% in total (Obesity Diagnosis and Treatment Manual, 2018)
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