Association of Overweight and Obesity with Self Care and Life Style

Abstract

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to determine the relation between overweight and obesity with the history of self – care and lifestyle in youth. Method: Firstly, the sample size required for a cross – sectional study has been estimated as 1150 and the sample have been selected among youth (18-29) in town and village of Aqqala county, Golestan province, based on the systematic random and clustering sampling method. Height and weight measurement have been obtained for each of them and the questionnaires such as Life Style and Measuring Tool of Self- Care(Common tool used by Youth Department of the Ministry of Health) have been completed and the prevalence of obesity among the sample has been estimated based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) (low weight, normal, overweight, and obese) and the youth have been classified to three groups of weak, average and good with respect to the history of self–care,using the questionnaire of Self–Care Measuring Tool. Finally, a case – control study has been designed in which the people with normal weight selected as control and reference group and the other weight groups have been selected as low weight, overweight and obese groups. Each case group has been compared separately with control group in three level of self – care and then the total people participated in study have been classified in to two groups with good and bad lifestyles, using the questionnaire of Life Style and then the relation between obesity and overweight with history of self – care has been investigated again in the two groups with good and bad life styles. Result: Statistical sample in this study includes totally 406 male (35.5%) and 736 female (64.5%), among which the prevalence of obesity has been estimated as 8.8%, overweight 23.6%, normal weight 54.4%, and low weight 9.2%. After modifying the other factors with possible risks such as age, sex, marital status, employment status, and location, the low weight group with weak self–care has been related to control group with normal weight and weak self– care level (Odds Ratio: 4.46, confidence intervals: 1.53-12.20). In other levels of self – care, there is a relation between obesity and overweight with self–care history, but it is not significant. Based on the lifestyle, also in the group with bad lifestyle, there is a relation between people in low weight and weak self–care independently, and control group of normal weight with weak self–care (Odds Ratio: 3.76, confidence intervals: 1.03-12.89).Conclusion:The people with risk of weak self–care have more probability to be in the group with BMI<18.5 and obese group. Also, based on the lifestyle, the people with bad lifestyle have more probability to be in the group of low weight compared to group with weak self-care and normal weight, but among people with good lifestyle, there is not any significant relation between weak self- care and low weight. Since the age, sex, marital status and education are important factors in obesity and overweight people. Low educated and lack of awareness of self-care, Creates a positive mental Image about obesity and overweight in them. So, the youth have the need for a serious planning for self-caring and for changing their life styles in order to have a normal weight.