Abstract

Background: Data on overweight and obesity in Iraq is anecdotal, scarce and not representative of the community. The objective of this study was to see the prevalence trends of excess weight (overweight and obesity) in Basrah (Southern Iraq) over 8 year, starting in 2003 and extending to 2010. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional simple random population based study done by the Al-Faiha Diabetes and Endocrine Center in Basrah (Southern Iraq). It was started in May 2003 and completed end of December 2010.

Results: Overall overweight and obesity affects 55.1% of the population (54.7% of women and 45.3 % of men). Overweight alone is not increased over 8 years. It was seen in 31.3% (50.2% of them men and 49.8% of women) with no significant gender differences. There was no significant trend in increase of obesity over 8 years. The overall prevalence of obesity was 23.8%. It is more in women than men (61.1% of them women and 38.9% of men) (p<0.0001). Both overweight and obesity were seen more in illiterate women and those aged 50 and above than men (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: Excess weight (overweight and obesity) affects more than half of the population in Basrah with no significant increase in the prevalence over 8 years.

Keywords: Overweight; Obesity; Prevalence; Iraq