Characteristics of overweighed and obese adults attended nutritional clinic in al-qadisiyah governorate, Iraq, 2014

Overall world, the community is undergoing a rapid epidemiological and nutritional transition characterized by persistent nutritional deficiencies or increasing overweight and obesity rate which is one of important challenge that needs to change in food habit and lifestyle toward healthy diet and regular physical exercise. In Iraq, this problem is not fixed, but according to Stepwise Surveillance of Chronic NCD Risk Factor 2006 the overweight and obesity rate was 67%(34.8%fe male, 32.1% female). This study aimed to estimate the describe BMI status and characteristics factor that associated with overweight and obesity.

A file base descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. files of adults aged >18 years attended the Nutritional clinic during 2014 were reviewed. demographics characteristics and BMI status were considered and presented as a percentage. mean of age was computed and some variables were crosstab with BMI classification recommended by WHO. statistical significant considered when p-value ≤ 0.05.

A total study sample was 722, Male to female ratio was 1: 6, the mean of age was 32.8 ± 9.9. About 20.5% was normal BMI while the overweight and obesity was 79.5%. The study showed that the overweight and obesity rate was higher in female than male(88.2% vs 21.8%, p-value > 0.001).it is also higher in married status than single(81.7% vs 18.3%, p > 0.001). The basic educational level had high overweight and obesity rate which was 46.1% with the statistically significant association (p-value = 0.05). We conclude that the overweight and obesity rate was high among female, married and persons have a basic educational level in the Iraqi community.