Prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among reproductive-aged women (15–49 years) in Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan district, Nepal

Abstract

Background Overweight and obesity is a rising public health threat both in developed and developing countries including Nepal. Nepal is undergoing rapid urbanization, accompanied by significant changes in lifestyle, dietary practices, and behavioral patterns. This shift has contributed to a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors among reproductive-aged women of Ratnanagar Municipality (RM), Chitwan. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in selected wards of Ratnanagar Municipality, Chitwan district. A multistage sampling method was followed for the selection of participants. Face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 (IBM). Descriptive results were presented using the frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Bivariate analysis was performed using Chi-square and bivariate binary logistic regression. The factors associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity were determined using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. All the tests were performed at a 95% Confidence Interval and variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results A total of 318 individuals participated in this study. More than half of the participants (51.6%) were overweight/obese. This study demonstrated that participant’s socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics such as age (AOR = 3.3, CI: 1.5–4.4), ethnicity (AOR = 2.3, CI:1.2–4.3), higher education (AOR = 2.6 CI:1.8–5.8), family type (AOR = 0.4, CI:0.1–0.8) and moderate physical activity (AOR = 3.0, CI: 1.2–7.4) were statistically significant with the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Conclusion This study concludes a significant burden of overweight and obesity (51.6%) among reproductive-aged women, with socio-demographic, lifestyle, and behavioral factors playing a key role. Factors such as age, education, occupation, and physical activity were linked to overweight and obesity. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to combat obesity, emphasizing the importance of behavioral changes, public health awareness, and community-based campaigns to promote healthy eating, and reduced sedentary behavior.