Combined obesity among adult in-patients: A study in a tertiary care hospital

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for number of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCD's). In adults, the combined measure of BMI and waist circumference provides better information on obesity in either sex. This gives good opportunity to predict the risk of development of NCD's better compared to the use of individual index. In this context, present study was undertaken.

Data was collected from 228 adult in-patients in a tertiary care hospital of Bengaluru, regarding sociopersonal profile, dietary habits, physical exercise practices and co-morbidities. Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and waist circumference were recorded and, BMI and waist circumference were combined as composite index.

The proportion of combined obesity was 32.9% and family history of obesity (p=0.01), history of alcohol intake (p=0.02), presence of two or more co-morbidities (p=0.0005) and hypertension with type 2 diabetes mellitus (p=0.001) were significantly associated with combined obesity.

Around one third of the adult in-patients were having combine obesity and associated with family history of obesity, alcohol intake and co-morbidities. The combined use of BMI and waist circumference is a suitable and practical index for assessment of obesity in adult in-patients.