Abstract:
Background: Central obesity is an apple shape distribution of fat to the abdominal area currently
identified as a major risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease due to accumulation
of liable fat. According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide prevalence of obesity
was almost doubled between 1980 and 2008 with estimated 502 million adults being obese
globally by 2008. In 2012, one in six adults was obese and nearly 2.8 million individuals die each
year due to obesity globally. In Ethiopia, studies showed that obesity and metabolic syndrome are
increasing. Many of the studies used BMI for measurement of obesity. However, there is no study
that documented the prevalence of central obesity which is strong predictors of both metabolic
syndrome and CVD from a community based data.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of central obesity and associated factors among adults.
Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 845 adults aged 18–64
years living in Jimma Town. The study participants were selected using multistage sampling
technique. Data were collected by using an interviewer administered questionnaire and
anthropometric instruments. The data were analyzed using SPSS windows version 20. P value <
0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.
Results: The prevalence of central obesity was 24.6%, which is 36.4% for females and 10.4% for
males. On the multivariable logistic regression model after adjusting for other variables age above
55 [AOR = 3.576(95%CI: 1.397-9.153)], female [AOR = 11.443(95%CI: 6.534-20.181)], dietary
diversity [AOR = 0.517(95%CI: 0.310-0.861)], alcohol consumption [AOR = 2.177(95%CI:
1.390-3.409)], snacking [AOR = 1.602(95%CI: 1.072-2.394)], physical inactivity [AOR =
2.327(95%CI: 1.437-3.767)], and high wealth index [AOR = 3.242(95%CI: 1.808-5.811)] were
significantly associated with central obesity.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The result revealed that increasing prevalence of central
obesity among adults of Jimma Town. Central obesity was high among those in age group between
55-64 years, in females, low diversified diet eaters, alcohol drinkers, snack users, in the high wealth
group and among physically inactive individuals. Promotion of having regular physical activity,
eating diversified diet, limiting alcohol drinking and snacking low energy foods are recommended
to prevent central obesity and associated risks.
