Study on the lifestyle of disadvantaged women at risk of type 2 diabetes under the support of social welfare center of Zanjan city in 2018

Background: Women's lifestyle affects their health and having a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. Evidence suggests that disadvantaged women are more subject to the risk of non- communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle of disadvantaged women at the risk of type 2 diabetes under the support of social welfare center of Zanjan city in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 287 women aged 65-35 and under the support of social welfare centers of Zanjan who were selected by Poisson random sampling. Data collection tools included a three-part questionnaire including demographic and background characteristics, an international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), and a Mini Nutrition Assessment questionnaire (MNA), filled out by a researcher at the social welfare center. Data were analyzed using descriptive-analytic statistical tests (mean index, standard deviation and one-factor analysis of variance, Kolmogorov-Smirnov) by applying SPSS software version 24. Results: The minimum and maximum age of women were 35 and 61 years, respectively, with a mean of 41.6(±9). The minimum and maximum body mass indexes were 16.2 and 42, respectively, with a mean of 26.1±4.3. In terms of education, the majority of women (42%) had Quranic-elementary education and concerning the income, 76% had insufficient income. As to the marital status, the majority of participants (69%) were widowed or divorced. According to the quantitative criterion of physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), more than half of the women (60%) had low to moderate physical activity and according to the quality criterion of WHO physical activity, 89% of women had unfavorable physical activity. In terms of nutritional status, more than half of the women (50.5%) had poor nutrition. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that the majority of women were undesirable in terms of physical activity and healthy nutrition. Therefore, interventional research is needed to find appropriate educational models to improve diabetes preventive behaviors in this population group.