Obesity Linked with the Unavailability of Resources and Psychosocial Factors - A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Author(s): Muhammad Sohaib Asghar, Uzma Rasheed, Nimra Shaikh, Mohammed Akram, Basmah Fayaz, Gul Muhammad Memon, Qutabuddin Khuhro, Syed Muhammad Adnan

Background: Obesity has reached a global epidemic. More people are overweight in this era than ever before, yet it seems that society lags behind in accepting it as a significant change, thus it has so far failed to address the needs of obese people. This study aims to investigate factors that contribute to the differences in the frequency of obesity. People often don't have resources or find it difficult to use the available resources in the society either because they are not suited for them or they are expected not to use them.

Methods: This study was conducted as an observational cross-sectional survey, including three study groups, at Dow University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. The responses of the study participants were compared amongst the normal weight, over-weight, and obese population groups. Out of the 130 study subjects, 53.84% (n=70) were obese, 26.15% (n=34) being over-weight, and 20% (n=26) were having normal weight. The responses were coded into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and analyzed. A sample size of 130 was calculated via raosoft digital calculator.

Results: A particular group lacked education regarding do and don'ts of obesity like what to eat and what not to eat, duration of physical activities, behaviors favoring obesity like daily activities, gym, family history, sports, snoring, depression, and disturbed sleep, thus making them prone to weight gain (p=<0.01). 

Conclusions: Many of the psychosocial factors were found as a contributing impaction on the lifestyles of the obese population.