Obesity consequences from the people’s perspective living in Kurdish regions of Iran: A qualitative content analysis

Overweight and obesity are one of the most public health problems in the world. Considering obesity prevalence and its widespread health, economic, psychological, and social consequences, this study aimed to explain the consequences of obesity among women and men in the Kurdish region of Mukryan.

The present qualitative study was conducted in the Mukryan Kurdish region in West Azerbaijan province in Iran from June 2017 to November 2017. Data were collected by deep interview, focus group and dialogue with 111 obese and thin men and women and various fields experts who were selected by purposive sampling, and analyzed by qualitative content analysis technique of conventional type and Graneheim and Lundman steps.

Data analysis results were classified into two categories and 12 subcategories: Favorable consequences of normal obesity (social acceptance, internalization of obesity, and reproduction of the family institution), unfavorable consequences of extreme obesity (decreasing agency, physical‑psychological dysfunctionalities, family fragility, prevalence of passive leisure, clothing obligation, social objectivity, exogenous and endogenous social exclusion, imposing economic costs, and devaluation of life).

With due attention to unfavorable consequences of extreme obesity on health, illness, social issues and costs, simultaneously with the adoption of preventive approaches to obesity through targeted policies in education, health literacy, promotion of sport culture, development of sports context especially for women, improving recreational facilities, etc., appropriate planning and interventions should be designed and applied for changing the behavior, culture, and community beliefs in dealing with obesity phenomenon.