Factors associated with overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti college women.

A random sample of 585 Kuwaiti college women was studied in 1997 for factors associated with overweight and obesity. Weight and height were measured. The index of adiposity used was the body mass index (BMI), which is the weight in kilograms divided by the height squared (W/H2). The women were classified as overweight or obese (BMI > 25 or > 30 Kg/m2). The associated factors obtained through questionnaires included age, marital status, area of residence, number of siblings, (brothers, sisters, total), suffering from a chronic disease, obesity among parents, parents' education and occupation, number of major meals eaten, eating between meals, family income, number of servants, number of people living at home, exercising, last dental and physical checkup, dieting, year of study, highest desired degree, countries prefer visiting, and socioeconomic status (SES). The results of the study revealed that 27.2 and 7.2% of the students were overweight (BMI > 25 Kg/m2) and obese (BMI > 30 Kg/m2), respectively. Factors that were found to be significantly associated with overweight and obesity among the women included number of brothers, having a chronic disease, obesity among parents, dieting and countries prefer visiting. Logistic regression analysis of significant associated factors revealed that the same factors contributed to the development of overweight and obesity except number of brothers and having a chronic disease.