The prevalence of obesity in females of 15-65 years of age in Gonabad, Iran

Abstract Obesity is one of the most prevalent nutrition disorders which is associated with increase in mortality rate, hypertension, diabetics, cardiovascular diseases, and Cancer. The majority of the people in developing and developed countries are involved in obesity. It is also the most important nutrition disease and one of the social problems all over the world. The samples, consisting of 440 females of 15-65 years of age, were selected based on random cluster sampling method. Measurement of obesity was performed through BMI and WHR indices. The analysis of data was done through statistic tests- Regression, Pierson. Kendal- and variation analysis, etc. using SPSS software. Based on BMI index 27. 7% of the sample females suffered from overweight (BMI=25-29. 9), 14. 5%, from obesity (BMI 30) and 22% from abdominal obesity (WHR 0. 85). Based on both indices, BMI and WHR, there is a significant relationship between the level of education and the prevalence of obesity: This relation is detected between obesity and the three variables of marital status, menopause and frequency of pregnancy. 26. 6% of married females. Suffers from obesity while this percentage is reduced to only 2. 5% in the case of single females. 64. 8% of menopausal females suffer from obesity while this percentage is reduced to 13. 8% in the case of no menopausal females. The prevalence of obesity associated with no pregnant females is 11. 9% while, in the case of females with six pregnancies, it rises to 67. 5%. Regression test also indicates a significant relationship between advance in age and obesity: the rate of obesity sours from 7. 7% among females of 20-24 years of age to 72. 7% among females of 55-65 years of age. The results of the research confirm the existence of a significant relation- ship between the parentُ s, especially the motherُ s, obesity and the daughter’s obesity. Spreading information about obesity and its Complications, urging people to change their eating habits and to do exercise and physical activities can be effective in decreasing the prevalence of obesity.