Introduction
According to World Health Organization
(WHO), obesity is associated with increased
risk of globesity rapidly in many parts of the
world. It was reported that prevalence of
obesity approximately doubled between
1998 and 2014 years. The highest prevalence
are seen in America (26%) and the lowest
prevalence are seen in Southeast Asia (3%) (1).
Obesity is a common condition which has
considerable impact on women health
ürelated with chronic conditions and multiple
types of cancers including cervix, breast and
ovarian (2). Several studies have documented
Corresponding Author: Gulay YILMAZEL; Public Health,
Hitit University School of Health, Çorum, Turkey
E-mail: dryilmazelgul@gmail.com
Received: Dec 29, 2015 Accepted: March 02, 2016
Published: June 25, 2016
This is an Open Access article distributed
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distribution, and reproduction in any area,
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The Ulutas Medical Journal © 2014
ORIGINAL ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS
Anthropometric Profiles and Risk Factors of Women
Introduction: This study was aimed to determine anthropometric profiles and risk factors among women aged
between 20-64 years living in Çorum province-Middle Black Sea Region of Anatolia.
Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted during December 2014 in two family health
centers region from Çorum. The population of study was consisted of registered women aged ≥20. During the
research volunteer 200 women have been included to the study without sample selection.Data were collected via
a 30- item questionnaire form asking socio-demographic features, health-illness status, eating habits, physical
activity of women. Anthropometric profiles of women were determined by Body Mass Index and Waist-Hip Ratio.
Analysis of the differences in the frequency of categorical variables was carried out by using the χ² test.
Correlations between anthropometric variables were assessed using Pearson’s correlation analysis.
Results: Of the study population, 27.9% were overweight and 39.6% were obese. The prevalence of abdominal
obesity was 45.0%. Increase in age, low educational level, being married, being housewife, low economic status,
having children, obesity in the first relatives, menopause, not consumed heavy-vegetable diet were the risk factors
for women’s anthropometric profiles.
Conclusion: This study has shown that overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity were prevalent among women.
In addition to Body Mass Index, Waist-Hip Ratio measurements should be used, to promote health education and
counselling services should be given to women in primary care services.
Keywords: Anthropometry, primary health care, women’s health, risk factors
Ulutas Med J 2016;2(2):82-89
DOI: 10.5455/umj.20160117043419
Gulay YILMAZEL
1
Fevziye CETINKAYA
2
Zeynep BAYKAN
3
Melis NACAR
3
Nuriye BUYUKKAYACI DUMAN
4
1
Department of Public Health, Hitit University School of Health, Çorum, TURKEY
2
Department of Public Health, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
3
Department of Medical Education, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey
4
Department of Nursery, Hitit University School of Health, Çorum, Turkey