Overweight, Obesity, and Its Associated Factors in Adult Women Referring to Health Centers in Shiraz in 2013-2014

Background: Obesity is one of the major health problems in the world; in this regard Iran is not an exception. The present study was conducted to investigate the overweight, obesity, and its related factors in adult women who referred to health centers in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 240 women who referred to health centers and aged 18-65 years old were selected through multi-stage random sampling, in 2013-2014. Height, weight, as well as waist and hip circumferences were measured, participants' body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were also calculated. The questionnaire of demographic factors, physical activity, and food frequency were completed. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity based on BMI was 29.2% and 13.8%, respectively. The mean of WHR was 0.89 &plusmn; 0.06 and based on this index, 79.2% of the participants had visceral obesity. There was a direct correlation between BMI and age, number of children, labor, energy, and fat intake. However, the correlation between BMI and physical activity, age of marriage, and protein intake was inverse (P < 0.05). No meaningful correlation was found between BMI and marital status, occupation, education level, income level, metropolitan area, smoking, and history of parental obesity. Based on logistic regression modeling, menopause, high energy intake, and low physical activity were associated factors of overweight and obesity (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Generally, despite extensive programs of public education, there is an alarming prevalence rate of both generalized as well as central overweight and obesity in the present study.