Associations of lifestyle factors and stress levels on abnormal body weight among Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Health issues arising from abnormal body weight represent a significant threat to the public health system in China. Investigating modifiable factors is of considerable importance. This study aimed to explore the associations between lifestyle factors, stress levels, and the prevalence of abnormal body weight (including malnutrition, overweight, and obesity) among Chinese adults. METHODS: A corss-sectional anaysis was conducted using data from 9,966 participants. The statistical analyses included percentage calculations for prevalence estimation, Chi-square tests for group comparisions, and multiple logistic regression analysis to identifiy factors associated with abnormal body weight (focusing on malnutrition and overweight / obesity) after adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 25.25%, while the prevalence of malnutrition was recorded at 12.20%. After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds of being overweight or obese were significantly higher in several demographic groups compared to their respective counterparts: individuals aged 41 to 65 years, those with elementary or junior high school education, married participants, individuals engaging in inadequate physical activity, those exhibiting mild-to-moderate or severe nicotine dependence, recent alcohol consumers, and participants experiencing no stress. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle factors significantly connected with the prevalence of overweight or obesity among Chinese adults. Consequently, public health initiatives aimed at managing overweight and obesity should prioritize the development of comprehensive interventions that address the identified modifiable risk factors to improve population health outcomes.