Effects of socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle variables on overweight and obesity among rural Rajbanshi post-menopausal women of India

Overweight and obesity are one of the most neglected public health problems in both developed and developing countries. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among post-menopausal women are increasing at a rapid pace. The present study aims to assess effects of socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle variables on prevalence of overweight and obesity among post-menopausal rural women belonging to an ethnic population of eastern India. This study has been carried out among 510 Rajbanshi women aged between 45-56 years and residing in the district of Darjeeling, West Bengal. Height and weight along with a number of socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle variables were recorded and body mass index (BMI = weight/height kg/m(2)) was calculated. The WHO (2000) cut-offs were utilized to assess prevalence of overweight (BMI >= 23.00-24.99 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI >= 25.00 kg/m(2)). The statistical tests (ANOVA, chi-square and binary logistic regression) were done using SPSS (version 17.0).The prevalence of overweight and obesity were observed to be high among those aged 45-50 years (30.63%, 4.26%) and 50-56 years (32.36%; 18.91%). The binary logistic regression analysis indicated that age, marital status, parity, age at menarche, occupational status, age at first pregnancy, monthly income, education, use of oral contraceptives and tobacco use had significant effects on overweight and obesity (p < 0.05). Age, parity, education, use of oral contraceptives, age at menarche, tobacco use, occupation, monthly income, age at first and last pregnancy were observed to have greater influence on prevalence of overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity associated with post-menopausal women require increased attention and a multidisciplinary approach for better health conditions among such women.