Association between Obesity and Overweight with Lifestyle Status and Physical Fitness Level in Shiraz Adults

Today the drastically rising trend of obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. Several factors such as unhealthy lifestyle and low physical fitness are related to obesity. The aim of this study thus was to investigate the association between obesity and overweight with lifestyle status and physical fitness levels in Shirazi adults.

For this cross-sectional study, 727 males (n=354; mean ± SD: 41.7 ± 10.1 years of age) and females (n=373; mean ± SD: 36.02 ± 7.9 years of age) were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Subject’s lifestyle status was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire based on Breslow’s lifestyle index and physical fitness levels were determined by a physical fitness index questionnaire.

Prevalences of obesity and overweight in males were 13.5% and 39.5% respectively and in females were 9.3% and 36.1% respectively. Results showed an inverse relationship between lifestyle status and physical fitness levels with overweight and obesity in both males and females (P<0.05). Despite females having a higher lifestyle index than males, both had unhealthy lifestyles.

Unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles are effective factors in overweight and obesity in Shirazi adults, who lack healthy lifestyles.