Prevalence of overweight, obesity and body weight perception among women above 30 years in Tirumazhisai, Chennai

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A WHO study was done in 2016 states that around 21.6% of Indian female population was overweight. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women above 30 years of age in Tirumazhisai. A cross-sectional study was done among women above and equal to 30 years of age residing in Tirumazhisai from January 2020 to March 2020. A total of 172 subjects were included. Data entered in MS Excel and analyzed using proportion and Pearson's chi-square test. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among women equal and above 30 years of age in Tirumazhisai is found to be 36.7%. Majority of the subjects belonged to the age group more than 45 (61.3%). Also, 60.3% of people with unhealthy weight status were illiterate. Only 4.8% of the subjects with unhealthy weight status were in the obese class 2 category. About 55.5% of the subjects with unhealthy weight status were overweight, and 39.7 % of them were obese class 1. Around 60.3% of the subjects with unhealthy weight status were not working or being a housewife. Overall satisfactory level of physical activity among the unhealthy subjects was 62%. There was a significant association between age more than 45 years and the prevalence of overweight and obesity (at p<0.05). As the age increase, the chances of becoming obese or overweight becomes high. 40% of the unhealthy subjects didn't acknowledge their unhealthy weight status and 37% of them ignored the fact of obesity as a co-morbid condition. Hence efforts should be made to bring awareness among women about unhealthy weight status and its consequences.