Abstract:
Background: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of premature death and cause serious
chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life and decrease productivity. Studies
on factors associated with overweight and obesity are lacking. Determining the factors
associated with overweight and obesity has paramount importance in health policy making
and health care delivery system.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess factors associated with overweight and
central obesity in adults at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center.
Methods and Materials: Source of data was from a community based cross-sectional study
conducted at Gilgel Gibe Field Research Center from late September 2008 to end of January
2009 using WHO stepwise of stratified random sampling method. All study participants of
age 15 to 64 years, who had anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist and hip
circumferences) were included in this study. Data were entered into the computer using EPIData version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS Windows version 16.0 software. Binary logistic
regression analysis was carried out to see the association between variables and a statistically
significant association was considered at p-value less than 0.05.
Results: Respondents of age, 45-54yrs, 55-64yrs and female sex were more likely to
develope an overweight and central obesity [(AOR= 5.0; 95%CI, 1.28-19.36), (AOR= 8.3;
95%CI, 2.080-33.20), (AOR= 3; 95%CI, 1.37-6.98)] and [(AOR= 2.1; 95%CI, 1.45-3.06),
(AOR= 2.5; 95%CI, 1.71-3.670), (AOR= 12; 95%CI, 4.27-20.46)] respectively. Higher
educational status, urban residence, employee and merchant were more likely to be
overweight [(AOR= 6.2; 95%CI, 2.12-17.95), (AOR= 4.2; 95%CI, 2.170-8.180), (AOR=
5.9; 95%CI, 1.66-21.03) and (AOR= 5.4; 95%CI, 1.65-14.8)], but higher educational status
and chewing chat were less likely to became central obesity [(AOR= 0.36; 95%CI, 0.210-
0.736) and (AOR= 0.44; 95%CI, 0.359-0.548)] respectively.
Conclusion: Older age, female sex and higher educational status were independent
predictors of overweight and central obesity. Also current smoker and chewing chat for
central obesity and merchant, employee and urban residence for overweight were
independent predictors. Woreda Health Office should encourage health facilities to promote
prevention and control of overweight and central obesity among females and urban residents.
