Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Reproductive Age Women of Kaski District, Nepal

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are associated with numerous comorbidities so they are of great public health concern. In Nepal, the proportion of overweight and obese women of reproductive age has been gradually increasing which marks obesity as a serious public health challenge. The study aimed to assess the factors associated with overweight and obesity among reproductive aged women residing in Pokhara metropolitan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 married women of reproductive age at Pokhara metropolitan, Kaski district, Nepal using probability proportional to size sampling method. Face to face interview was conducted among respondents through pretested questionnaire. Similarly, height and weight were also measured. Based on anthropometric measurements, Body Mass Index was computed and defined according to the World Health Organization criteria. The association between overweight /obesity and the explanatory variables were assessed in bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test and the association was further explored by using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 49.6%; with 33.7% of overweight and 15.9 % of obesity. Factors associated with overweight/obesity were age (AOR= 13.85, 95% CI: 5.77-40.80), business as occupation (AOR=7.39, 95%CI: 2.25-14.17), fast food consumption of three or more times a week (AOR=3.42, 95%CI: 1.01-11.63), energy intake above the RDA (AOR=5.45; 95%CI: 2.19-13.55), low or moderate physical activity level (AOR=2.84; 95%CI: 1.18-6.83) and multiparity (AOR=17.80; 95%CI: 4.04-89.06). Conclusions: The study provides evidence that the prevalence of overweight, obesity is remarkably high in married women of reproductive age in Pokhara metropolitan. The study concluded older age, business as occupation, consumption of fast foods for three or more times per week, low or moderate physical activity level, energy intake above the RDA and multiparty had higher odds of being overweight/obesity. On the other hand fruits and vegetables consumption were found to be protective against overweight/obesity.