Rising obesity in Turkey: prevalence and determinants for mothers

Tuğba Adalı, Hacettepe University
Sabahat Tezcan, Hacettepe University
Elif Yiğit, Hacettepe University

Obesity is a growing public health problem in Turkey, like many other countries. Studies in Turkey have shown and increasing prevelance of obesity in adults, with women being at more risk. The importance of this problem for mothers is crucial; since obesity introduces health risks for their babies women along with themselves. Evidence from demographic and health surveys show that the prevalence of obesity for mothers of young children is increasing. This study focuses on this particular group of women in Turkey, based on data from the anthropometric measurements in the latest Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, carried out in 2008 (TDHS-2008) to identify the risk groups. Descriptive analysis includes mean weight, mean BMI and categories of BMI by household characteristics, socio-demographic and bio-demographic characteristics available. Multiple logistic analysis was made to analyse the determinants of obesity in mothers. Results showed that 34.5 percent of mothers in Turkey are overweight (25≤BMI<30) and 23.9 percent of mothers in Turkey are obese (BMI≥30). The prevelance of obesity is higher for women in households of moderate wealth status (28.2 percent), with lower education (28.7 percent) and who live in the Southeastern region of Turkey (27.8 percent). It is lower for women who work with social security (12.2 percent) and who have given only 1 live birth by survey (11.6 percent). There is also a clear trend of increase with mothers’ age (8.6 percent for mothers aged 15-19 and 44.5 for mothers aged 44.5). Multiple logistic regression analysis for obesity showed the significance of household wealth, age, smoking, total number of children ever born, and births by cesearean section.