Abstract
This study was designed to assess the relation between body mass inrIP)
c (BM() and age, sex and parity of non-selected population sample of
adults receding in six communities in Kalyobia and Dakahlia Govemates
so as to determine the prevalence of obesity in these govemates and to
specify age-, sex- and parity-adjusted prevalence of obesity in such sample.
A total of 400 subjects (223 men and 177 women) with a mean age of
36.42+8.77 years; range: 22-58 years were recruited in the study. Body
mass index was calculated: BMI= (weight (kg)) / (height (inI)2. Using BMI
as the criterion, underweight was defined as BMI <20 kg/ m2, below average
weight as BMI >20-<25 kg / m2, average weight as BMI 25-<30
kg / m2, overweight was defined as BM1 30-<35 kg / m2, obesity as BM1
35-<40 kg/ m2 and morbid obesity as BM1 >40 kg/ m2. The mean cr nth,
BMI of the study participants was 31.1+4.3 kg/ m2; range: 16.6-44.4
kg/ m2. Only,104 subjects (26%) had average BMI, while 31 subjects
(7.75%)were below average and 7 subjects (1.75%) were under weight.
On the contrary, 206 subjects (51.5%) were overweight, 48 subjects (12%)
were obese and 4 subjects (1%) were morbid obese. Thus, the prevalence
of obesity was about 64.5% of the studied subjects. Age-adjusted BAG revealed
that higher BMI was reported in the age groups ranging between
30- 50 years, while 109 subjects (27.25%) aged <30 years, and 48 subjects
(12%) aged >50 years were less obese with a significant (P<0.05) increase
of BMI of subjects aged 30-50 years compared to those younger
than 30 years and those older than 50 years. There was a positive signif- |
