Socio-demographic predictors of obesity among women in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Recent studies indicate an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women in Uganda; these have been associated with factors like age, marital status, income status, the number of children, and level of education, among others. However, most studies rely solely on the body mass index as the indicator of obesity. This study examined the socio demographic factors associated with obesity among women aged 18–59 years in Mukono Central Division of Central Uganda. Methods A cross sectional study design using quantitative methods was employed. A total of 384 women between 18 and 59 years were selected by simple random sampling. A semi structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used to collect data. Results Age and marital status were positively associated with overweight-body mass index classification (Age–OR 1.9; CI 1.3–3.0; p = 0.003: marital status–OR 2.1; 1.1–3.8; p = 0.021), obese-body mass index classification (Age–OR 2.3; CI 1.3–3.8; p = 0.002: marital status–OR 2.8; 1.1–7.2; p = 0.029), increased risk-waist circumference classification (Age–OR 3.2; CI 2.0–5.1; p = 0.000: marital status–OR 2.4; 1.3–4.6; p = 0.005) and substantially increased risk-waist hip ratio classification (Age–OR 1.9; CI 1.2–3.0; p = 0.005: marital status–OR 2.7; 1.3–5.5; p = 0.006). Age was also positively associated with overfat-Total Body Fat percentage classification(Age–OR 2.2; CI 1.4–3.5; p = 0.001) and excessive-Abdominal Fat Level classification (Age–OR 3.2; CI 1.1–9.4; p = 0.03). Employment status was negatively associated with obese-Total Body fat Percentage classification (Employment status–OR 0.6; CI 0.4–0.9; p = 0.015). Conclusions Generalized and abdominal obesity in women were both predicted by age, marital status, and employment status. Identifying the changes that occur in the lives of women as they grow older, get married, and have children, and what it is about being unemployed, that predisposes women to obesity within the Ugandan context, will be instrumental in guiding interventions to curb the emerging obesity epidemic among women in Uganda.