Obesity risk in women of childbearing age in New Zealand: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate risk factors for women with obesity of childbearing age.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of New Zealand women (15-49 years) with measured height and weight was used [unweighted (n = 3625) and weighted analytical sample (n = 1,098,372)] alongside sociodemographic-, behavioural- and environmental-level predictors. Multilevel logistic regression weighted for non-response of height and weight data was used.

RESULTS

Meeting physical activity guidelines (AOR (adjusted odds ratio) 0.66, 95% CI 0.54-0.80), Asian (AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.10-0.23) and European/other ethnicity (AOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.36-0.58) and an increased availability of public greenspace (Q4 AOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.75) were related to decreased obesity risk. Older age (45-49 years AOR 3.01, 95% CI 2.17-4.16), Pacific ethnicity (AOR 2.81, 95% CI 1.87-4.22), residing in deprived areas (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.16-2.35) or secondary urban areas (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.03-2.18) were related to increased obesity risk. When examined by rural/urban classification, private greenspace was only related to increased obesity risk in main urban areas.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights factors including but not limited to public greenspace, which inform obesity interventions for women of childbearing age in New Zealand.