Factors affecting overweight and obesity among urban adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: the prevalence of overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate in the developing countries. The present cross-sectional study assesses the prevalence of overweight and obesity along with their associated variables among urban adult individuals belonging to the Bengalee Hindu Caste Population (BHCP). METHODS: the study has been carried out among 600 adult individuals belonging to the BHCP in the age group of 20-60 years and residing in the district of Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India. Height and weight, along with a number of socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle variables were recorded. International cut off points of the body mass index were used to assess overweight (BMI >= 23.00 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI >= 25.00 kg/m(2)). The statistical tests (ANOVA, chi-square and multinomial logistic regression) were done using SPSS (version 15.00). RESULTS: the prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed to be high among both the male (23.67% and 9.67%) and the female (20.33% and 29.33%) individuals. The sex difference was observed to be significant in case of obesity (p < 0.01) and combined overweight-obesity (p < 0.01). The multinomial logistic regression indicated that age and monthly income had significant effects on overweight (p < 0.05). Sex, age, monthly income, marital status, education and alcohol intake were observed to have significant effects on obesity (p < 0.05). Sex, age, monthly income and monthly income and marital status also showed significant effects with combined overweight-obesity (BMI >= 23.00 kg/m(2)) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of overweight and obesity exhibited an increasing trend among urban adults of the BHCP. Sex, age, marital status and monthly income were observed to have more influence on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among them. There appears to be an urgent need for the development of health strategies and intervention programmes for combating the consequences of overweight and obesity.