ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutritional Epidemiology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1502680
Magnitude, associated risk factor and awareness of predisposing factors, treatment, and prevention of overweight/obesity among adults in North Wollo zone, Northeast Ethiopia
Provisionally accepted
- Woldia University, Woldiya, Ethiopia
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Aim: This study examined the prevalence, risk factors, awareness of predisposing factors, and management of overweight and obesity in North Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia.Methods: From January 2022 to January 2023, a cross-sectional community survey was conducted with 1,084 participants aged 18 and above in North Wollo. A multi-stage sampling technique was used for the quantitative study, while convenience sampling was applied for the qualitative component. Quantitative data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and qualitative data were gathered through interviews. Body Mass Index (BMI) determines overweight and obesity status. Ordinal logistic regression analyzed the relationship between predictors and outcomes, with significance set at p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval.Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.3%. Most participants recognized excessive saturated fat intake (52.4%) and lack of regular physical activity (82.9%) as risk factors. However, awareness was low regarding other risks: family history (84.0%), age (57.9%), low vegetable (63.0%) and fruit intake (77.0%), low socioeconomic status (72.0%), smoking (82.5%), medication use (58.0%), stress (82.9%), and inadequate sleep (57.9%).While many participants knew that reducing saturated fat (52.4%) and exercising regularly (82.9%) could prevent obesity, few were aware of the benefits of sufficient sleep (57.9%), stress reduction (82.9%), medication management (58.0%), quitting smoking (82.5%), improving socioeconomic status (72.0%), and increasing fruit (77.0%) and vegetable intake (63.0%).Regarding treatment, most recognized regular exercise as beneficial, but few were aware of informed nutrition, weight loss medications, or surgical options. Significant risk factors for overweight and obesity included high stress (p = 0.000), female gender (p = 0.000), older age (p = 0.000), physical inactivity (p = 0.000), low fruit (p = 0.000) and vegetable intake (p = 0.012), smoking (p = 0.000), high saturated fat consumption (p = 0.043), and alcohol use (p = 0.000).Conclusion: One-fifth of adults in North Wollo are overweight or obese, with limited awareness of risk factors, prevention, and treatment methods. Enhanced education on healthy habits and physical activity is crucial.
Keywords: Overweight, Obesity, Awareness, prevention, Risk factors
Received: 27 Sep 2024; Accepted: 20 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Belete, Asef and Taye. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Aychew Kassa Belete, Woldia University, Woldiya, Ethiopia
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