The Study of Social Profile and Some Health Problems Associated With Body Weight Disorders in Upper Egypt Male Youth

Abstract

Background: Body weight disorder is a common health problem, unfortunately. The excess weight of the enlarged adipose tissue mass together with the metabolic changes of obesity can induce serious health problems and increase the risk for many diseases. Aim: To study social profile and some medical health problems associated with obesity among Upper Egypt male youth. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Qena University Hospital with a total number of 500 male individuals 18-30 years old, attending medical examinations for different causes. Participants were submitted to: filling a predesigned questionnaire, clinical interview, body mass index (BMI) measurement, fasting blood glucose (FBG) level, and postprandial serum glucose (PPG) level, as required. Results: The mean age was 25±4.55 years. Middle social class comprised most individuals with normal weight [χ2(df=6) 35.01, p<0.001]. Among them, too, who were weight disordered, middle class subjects with overweight accounted up to 63.2%, those with obesity accounted up to 45.2%, and those with underweight accounted up to 42.1%. More than half (57.9%) of those with underweight, and 41.9% of the obese were of low social class; while most of high social class youth were either normal (14/30,46.7%)- or over-weight; none were underweight [χ²(df=6)=35.01, p<0.001]. Also, 6.1% participants were obese. Further, 3.2% and 6.5% of obese persons were diabetics and hypertensive, respectively [Fisher’s exact, p=0.003, Fisher’s exact, p=0.002, respectively]. Young adults with family history of obesity were more than five-folds prone to obesity compared to those counterparts without family history of obesity (OR=5.72, 95%CI:1.05-32.43). Conclusion: Obesity is associated with comorbid medical problems among young adult males in the Upper Egypt district. Particularly low socioeconomic class individuals, as well as those with a positive family history of obesity disorder problem are at greater risk.