Measuring the Association of Overweight and Obesity with Human Disease and Other Factors in Bangladesh

Abstract

Overweight and obesity in people are epidemic in North America and interna tionally. In the United States, the number of overweight children and adolescents has doubled in the last two to three decades, and similar increasing rates are being observed worldwide, including developing countries as Bangladesh where an increase in Westernization of behavioral and dietary lifestyles is evident. Human diseases associated with overweight and obesity are similar in children as in the adult population. The main purpose of this study was to examine the association between overweight and obesity with human disease and other factors in Bangladesh. We have attempted to estimate the relationship between associated variables by using the Pearson Chi-Square test. It also showed how important an individual variable is by itself. The study also employed a statistical technique namely, logistic regression analysis which has been used to find out the association of overweight and obesity with human disease and other factors. We have seen that 16.96 % people are overweight and 4.14 % people are obese, i.e. 21.1 % people are overweight or obese in Bangladesh. From the logistic regression analysis technique among the independent variables type of place of residence, Highest educational level, Wealth index, Current marital status, Ever had vaccination , Had fever in last two weeks, Had cough in last two weeks, Short, rapid breaths, Problem in the chest or blocked or running nose have significant effect on dependent variable BMI classification.