A Study on The Prevalence of Overweight and Associated Risk Factors in Urban Adult Women (19-49 Years) Of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is escalating worldwide, and it has been acknowledged as a global issue by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though India's overweight rates are comparatively lower than those of Western countries, they are steadily increasing. Therefore, it becomes crucial to understand the extent of overweight in cities like Kolkata. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight among urban adult women (aged 19-49 years) in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 130 subjects, and a pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-economic details, physical activity, dietary patterns, and perceptions and knowledge related to overweight through interviews. The outcome variables measured were Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Univariate, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were performed using MS Excel. There was a 54% overweight prevalence among urban adult women, and a 67.4% abdominal obesity prevalence. Several factors were significantly associated with being overweight (having a BMI over 25). These factors included women perceiving themselves as thinner than they actually are, being aged over 35 years, and having a husband who is self-employed. In urban West Bengal, overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity levels are considerably high. This highlights the urgency of addressing the issue of overweight in this region and calls for targeted interventions to promote healthier lifestyles and combat the growing problem of overweight and obesity.