Obesity Among Adult Patients Aged 18 Years Old And Above Attending Main Primary Health Care Centers In Babil Governorate, Iraq 2015: Prevalence And Some Possible Risk Factors

Background: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the period from 1st of January to 31st of March 2015 in Babil governorate-Iraq. A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect 420 patients from 8 main primary health care centers chosen randomly. They consented to interview directly by the researcher using questionnaire  Of the 420 patients, 168 (40%) were obese. The body mass index classes had a statistical significant association with ; age, occupation, residence (P=0.000). Eating: sweet, chocolate (P=0.000); fruit (P= 0.001); skipping breakfast (P=0.027); TV watching time (P=0.004);  moderate activity frequency and time consumed (P=0.000), sleep duration, family history of obesity (P=0.000). Logistic regression analysis predicted some factors that increased the odds of obesity; age (OR=1.159), no job or retired(OR=10), business (OR=12.6), skipping breakfast (OR=1.46), eating sweet and chocolate (OR=2.709), time of TV watching (OR=3.319), and family history (OR=3.746), whereas some factors decreased the odds like; farmer (OR=0.013), laborer (OR=0.042), rural residence (OR=0.136), eating fruit (OR=0.502), moderate physical activity (OR=0.26) . Conclusions and recommendations: Obesity prevalence was 40%, and associated with socio-demographic features, eating habits, physical activity , sleep duration, and family history. The study recommended adoption of health education programs about obesity by Ministry of Health regarding healthy diet, decrease sedentary lifestyle, encouraging of physical activity at  all ages for proper prevention of obesity.