Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Adults in Zakho City

The Prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising globally, accompanied by numerous health concerns throughout the population. Obesity is becoming a significant public health concern of the 21st century, impacting children, adolescents, and adults. This study aimed to determine the Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and to identify the factors that may contribute to their Prevalence. A cross-sectional survey was executed, and 1,148 participants were selected randomly, comprising men and women aged 18 years and above, in Zakho City, northern Iraq, in 2024. A specifically crafted questionnaire was utilized to gather pertinent sociodemographic data from the participants. The height and weight of all participants were measured. The Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 52.4% (overweight=33% and obese = 19.4%). A statistically significant correlation was found between overweight/obesity and factors such as older age groups, marital status, female gender, physical inactivity, and medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease (p<0.05). A multivariate analysis identified several statistically significant factors associated with overweight/obesity: age groups (OR 4.93, 95% CI 3.32–7.3), marital status (OR 3.65, 95% CI 2.84–4.69), physical inactivity (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.77–3.01), and medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes (OR 3.58, 95% CI 2.24–5.72), hypertension (OR 5.47, 95% CI 3.21–9.32), and cardiovascular disease (OR 11.2, 95% CI 3.42–36.54). The Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in Zakho City is significantly high. This matter requires prompt action by healthcare authorities to formulate and implement preventive strategies in conjunction with efforts to enhance public awareness via specialized health education programs.