The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein
Background: This investigation was prompted by the increase of obesity in developing countries with the simultaneous increased risk of preventable noncommunicable diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among women serving a predominantly black peri-urban community, who visited a h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2011-08-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1651 |
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| author | E.A.M. Prinsloo G. Joubert M. Mohale N. Nyindi N. Matu L.N. Ntechane M.C. Struwig |
| author_facet | E.A.M. Prinsloo G. Joubert M. Mohale N. Nyindi N. Matu L.N. Ntechane M.C. Struwig |
| author_sort | E.A.M. Prinsloo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: This investigation was prompted by the increase of obesity in developing countries with the simultaneous increased risk of preventable noncommunicable diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among women serving a predominantly black peri-urban community, who visited a healthcare centre in Bloemfontein. We also wanted to establish their perceived weight status, and any correlation between obesity, level of education, employment status and monthly income.
Method: A cross-sectional analytical design was used. In June 2007, clinic-attending women aged 18-50 years were selected by a systematic sampling method to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire investigated participants’ socio-economic status, body image perception, psychological well-being, self-reported health status and physical activity. Body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated from weight and height measurements.
Results: A total of 304 women completed the study, of whom 98 (32.2%) were overweight and 134 (44.1%) were obese, with a mean BMI of 30.1 kg/m2 [standard deviation (SD) 6.9 kg/m2]. More than half (53.4%) of the obese women perceived themselves as not obese. Approximately 84% of the participants were educated to secondary level, or higher. A significant difference in the employment status of the obese and non-obese participants (26.9% and 16.5% employed, respectively) was noted (p-value = 0.0013). The obese participants reported significantly less low self-esteem (29.5%) than the nonobese participants (42.4%) (p-value = 0.0250).
Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity, and the fact that 53.4% of the obese participants did not perceive themselves as such, poses a challenge for healthcare providers. Health-promotion strategies should aim to inform women about the health risks of overweight and obesity, and address misconceptions regarding perceived weight status. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ef59e8825aa149ed8904c86b133900a0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-08-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-ef59e8825aa149ed8904c86b133900a02025-08-20T03:47:10ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042011-08-0153410.1080/20786204.2011.108741164623The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, BloemfonteinE.A.M. Prinsloo0G. Joubert1M. Mohale2N. Nyindi3N. Matu4L.N. Ntechane5M.C. Struwig6Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateFaculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free StateBackground: This investigation was prompted by the increase of obesity in developing countries with the simultaneous increased risk of preventable noncommunicable diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among women serving a predominantly black peri-urban community, who visited a healthcare centre in Bloemfontein. We also wanted to establish their perceived weight status, and any correlation between obesity, level of education, employment status and monthly income. Method: A cross-sectional analytical design was used. In June 2007, clinic-attending women aged 18-50 years were selected by a systematic sampling method to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire investigated participants’ socio-economic status, body image perception, psychological well-being, self-reported health status and physical activity. Body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated from weight and height measurements. Results: A total of 304 women completed the study, of whom 98 (32.2%) were overweight and 134 (44.1%) were obese, with a mean BMI of 30.1 kg/m2 [standard deviation (SD) 6.9 kg/m2]. More than half (53.4%) of the obese women perceived themselves as not obese. Approximately 84% of the participants were educated to secondary level, or higher. A significant difference in the employment status of the obese and non-obese participants (26.9% and 16.5% employed, respectively) was noted (p-value = 0.0013). The obese participants reported significantly less low self-esteem (29.5%) than the nonobese participants (42.4%) (p-value = 0.0250). Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity, and the fact that 53.4% of the obese participants did not perceive themselves as such, poses a challenge for healthcare providers. Health-promotion strategies should aim to inform women about the health risks of overweight and obesity, and address misconceptions regarding perceived weight status.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1651overweightobesitywomensocio-economic statusperceived weight status |
| spellingShingle | E.A.M. Prinsloo G. Joubert M. Mohale N. Nyindi N. Matu L.N. Ntechane M.C. Struwig The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein South African Family Practice overweight obesity women socio-economic status perceived weight status |
| title | The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein |
| title_full | The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein |
| title_short | The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein |
| title_sort | prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the mangaung university community partnership project healthcare centre bloemfontein |
| topic | overweight obesity women socio-economic status perceived weight status |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1651 |
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