Demographic and dietary predictors of abdominal obesity among adults in Jabalpur district – A cross-sectional study

Background: Abdominal obesity is a major public health concern associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. It is a more reliable predictor of metabolic risk than general obesity measured by Body Mass Index. With increasing urbanization and dietary transitions, India is witnessing a rise in abdominal obesity, yet region-specific data, especially from central India, remains limited. Aims & Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and determine the influence of socio-demographic factors and dietary factors on abdominal obesity among participants. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2024 in rural areas of Jabalpur district. A total of 770 adults (aged >18 years) were selected using simple random sampling from seven rural blocks. Data on socio-demographic variables and dietary intake (via Food Frequency Questionnaire) were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured tool. Abdominal obesity was defined using WHO Asia-Pacific criteria. Data was analysed using SPSS. Results: Abdominal obesity was present in 35 % of participants. It was more prevalent among individuals aged 41–50 years and >50 years (p = 0.001), females (p = 0.713), unemployed (0.066) and those with intermediate and high school education (p = 0.001). lower middle class showed the highest prevalence (p = 0.014). Higher frequency of fresh fruit intake and fast-food consumption was associated with abdominal obesity (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Logistic regression revealed that frequent intake of fresh vegetables (OR = 0.743, p = 0.03) was protective, while frequent intake of sweets significantly increased the risk (OR = 2.802, p = 0.019). Conclusion: The study revealed a high burden of abdominal obesity in rural Jabalpur, with significant association with age, education, socioeconomic status, and diet. The findings emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions promoting healthy dietary practices and physical activity. Region-specific data such as this is crucial for designing localized strategies to curb the growing epidemic of abdominal obesity and associated non-communicable diseases.