Obesity: An Inevitable Consequence of Urbanization

Abstract

Background: Today, obesity is a key healthcare problem on a global scale including Iran. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hormozgan province, Iran to propose effective healthcare programs and strategies to reduce this dilemma in future. Objectives: The current study conducted in the South of Iran aimed at exploring the prevalence of overweigh and obesity in males and females in terms of social variables affected by demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, smoking, and physical activity. Methods: In the current cross sectional, observational study, a sample of 5000 eligible males and females above 18 years old were selected based on a multi-stratified clustering sampling method. The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of variables such as weight, height, drug consumption, and physical activity. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: The present study findings revealed that 31.8% of the population in Hormozgan province was overweight, while only 15.2% were obese. The highest percentage of obesity (18.3%) was observed among the subjects aged 35-44 years. The prevalence of obesity among females was higher in urban population. Conclusions: The current study results showed that the urban married middle-aged females had the highest rate of obesity, which requires appropriate educational planning and utilization of efficient models in the realm of females' health.

Prevalence of Obesity and its Associated Factors Among the 35-70-Year-Old Population of Bandare-Kong: A Cross-sectional Survey (Findings of the Persian Cohort Study)

“…The prevalence of general obesity was comparable with other studies in Iran (11,14); however, a lower prevalence of central obesity was found in the current study compared to another study conducted in Iran (14), which can be attributed to genetic factors and different dietary patterns. Interestingly, in a recent study on 5000 adults in Hormozgan province, the same province as the current study, 31.8% of the study population were also overweight and only 15.2% were obese (24). These rates, especially obesity, were higher in our study.…”

“…By estimating crude and age-standardized prevalences, we found a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, particularly among women. Previous studies have also reported a higher prevalence of general and abdominal obesity in females (10,11,14,24), potentially due to (25,26). Our study included women aged 35-70 years who may have had higher parity compared to younger women.…”

“…The justification for this discrepancy can be the difference in the age of the studied populations. Farshidi et al evaluated individuals above 18 years of age, while we assessed those in the age range of 35-70 years (24).…”