The association between high parity and obesity in women living in South-eastern Turkey

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One of the major public health problems in Turkey is the high prevalence of obesity, which is particularly frequent among women. As it has been reported that parity affects body fat and BMI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between parity number, socioeconomic status and obesity. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study involved 286 married or divorced women aged 28- 80 years (mean age: 46.7±9.7), who were divided into two groups depending on whether they had experienced three or fewer pregnancies (group 1) or four or more pregnancies (group 2). We measured their body weight and height, and waist and hip circumferences, calculated their BMI, and determined their body fat percentage and fat mass by means of bioelectric impedance. RESULTS: The women in group 2 had a higher BMI, a greater fat percentage and fat mass, a larger waist circumference and higher waist/hip ratio values than those in group 1, and their mean age and illiteracy ratio were also higher. There was a significant correlation between parity number and body weight, BMI and hip circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Among other risk factors, a high parity number and socioeconomic indices may be associated with obesity in women.