Abstract:
A study to determine the prevalence’of obesity in our society and to assess the effects of life style pattern and socio-demographic factors in the development of obesity in young adults was conducted at medical OPD of civil hospital Karachi from July -September 2002. A total of 290 patients were randomly selected. A pre coded Performa specially designed for this study was used to interview each patient. Height and weight was recorded for each patient to assess him/her as obese or non-obese. Mean age of the patients was 30.54 ± 9.41. Prevalence of obesity was recorded as 28.6%. Females above 30 years of age (47.0% statistically significant at P>0.05) were more obese than any other group. Similarly married females were observed more obese (82.0% statistically significant at P>0.01). According to the study results, habits of sleeping at daytime, taking rich fat diet, taking more sugar in tea, drinking soft drink daily, use of sweets and doing no exercise daily plays significant role in the development of obesity. Risk to be obese is much higher in those whom father/mother /sister or brothers are obese. However income, number of children, considering him/her self as obese and use of oral contraceptives by married females did not show any significant role in the development of obesity. Media could play an important role in the development of awareness of preventive measures in the general public through regular compaign to reduce the risk of morbidity and chronic diseases in the society.
Page(s):
65-69
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Medical Research, Volume: 43, Issue: 2, Year: 2004