Obesity in Jordan

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of obesity among semi-urban communities in Jordan and its association with a number of factors. DESIGN: A sample of households was systematically selected from four Jordanian towns namely, Sarih, Sikhra, Southern Mazar and Subha-Subhieh. AII subjects aged greater than or equal to 25 y within the selected households, were invited to participate in the study. A total of 2836 subjects were actually included in the study, with an overall response rate of 70.5%. Study procedures were carried out in the local health centres in each town over a one-month period. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity (body mass index, BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2)) was 49.7%; 32.7% in males and 59.8% in females. Obesity was more prevalent in the older age groups, illiterate people, diabetic and hypertensive subjects, and those with hypercholesterolaemia (HC), hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG), high level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and low level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). After adjusting for age and gender, obesity was associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) (odds ratio (OR) 1.4, 95% confidence limit (CL) 1.1, 1.8), hypertension (HT) (OR 2.2, 95% CL 1.7, 2.8), HC (OR 1.3, 95% CL 1.1, 1.5), HTG (OR 2.3, 95% CL 2.0, 2.8), elevated LDL (OR 1.5, 95% CL 1.2, 1.8) and low HDL (OR 2.3, 95% CL 1.8, 2.9). CONCLUSION: Obesity seems to be a common disorder among adult Jordanians. More attention should be paid to this problem at the national level.