Prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age group and related factors. A study from Southeastern Turkey

Background: Obesity is an important public health issue with an increasing prevalence in Turkey as well as throughout the world. Aims: The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age group living in Adıyaman which is located in southeastern Turkey and the factors related to it. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out with 1,100 women registered at Family Health Centers in the Adıyaman city center. Data were collected through a face-to-face survey method and evaluated on a computer. Chi-square and logistic regression evaluations were used in comparisons and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the women was 32.94 ± 8.65; 78.3% of them were homemakers, and half were elementary school graduates or less educated; 57.6% of the women were overweight with 24.1% being obese. It was observed that women's body mass index increased with their age and decreased with higher levels of education. Also, the study showed that the risk of being overweight increased 3,2 times for married women and 2,0 times for unemployed women. Additionally, the rate of women being overweight was higher among the women with more number of previous pregnancies. Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity among women of reproductive age was high in the Adıyaman city center. Specific training should be planned, especially for women with low education levels, for fighting obesity.