Determine the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity and Effective Factors in Iranian Females: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors in the female population of Shiraz, South of Iran. This population-based cross-sectional study is based on a screening program on 11850 women referring to a gynecological clinic between 2004 and 2012. Overweight and obesity were defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m2 and a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, respectively. The mean age of participants was 41.1±10.6 yrs. Mean BMI were 27 kg/m2 (95% CI: 26.90-27.10). The total prevalence of overweight and obesity was 41.4% (95% CI: 40.5-42.3) and 24.10% (95% CI: 23.3-24.9), respectively. In addition, 50-54-year-old women were more likely to have a BMI ≥25 than Youngers. The high prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study indicates the need for planning preventive programs for the health system in this population.