ABDOMINAL OBESITY AS MEASURED BY WAIST CIRCUMFERRENCE AMONG POPULATION OF DISTRICT PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT
Background: Obesity is defined as a condition of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the adipose tissue of the
body. Increased body weight is a major risk factor for the metabolic syndrome which is an important cluster of coronary
heart disease risk factors. Objective: The objective of the instant study was to determine the frequency of abdominal
obesity as measured by waist circumference in the population of Peshawar district. Methods: This descriptive cross
sectional study was carried out among the population of district Peshawar, KPK. All participants were interviewed in
detail. Waist circumference (≥ 102 cm in male and ≥ 88 cm in females) was used as the surrogate marker for abdominal
obesity. Results: A total of 3726 individuals were included, 61.94% were male. Mean age was 39.38±14.90 years.
Mean waist circumference was 91.82±12.50 cm in males and 93.56±14.40 cm in females. Conclusion: Abdominal
obesity is more common amongst female than male population of Peshawar District and waist circumference is a good
anthropometric measure of abdominal obesity.