The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein

Body satisfaction of female staff members working in primary schools in Mangaung, Bloemfontein

Background

The role of psychosocial determinants of overweight and obesity is receiving attention in South African literature. South Africans tend to exhibit an inaccurate perception of their body weight.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine levels of body satisfaction in female staff members working in primary schools in Mangaung, Bloemfontein.

Setting

Mangaung is a peri-urban area in Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa.

Methods

Female staff members over the age of 18 years were invited to participate in the study. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were measured using standardised techniques to calculate body mass index (BMI). Waist circumference (WC) was measured as an indicator of risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Weight satisfaction was measured using a structured, self-administered body satisfaction questionnaire.

Results

The majority of the staff members (71.3%) were classified as obese (BMI > 30 kg/m²); similarly a majority of them were at a high risk of NCDs according to WC. A little over a third (34.8%) of the women perceived themselves to have a normal weight. The majority of the women who had no concern with their body image were obese (59.1%) and only 8.7% of the women in this study were markedly concerned with their body image. Of the 60.9% of women who reported having attempted to lose weight, 38.6% reported using exercise and 30.0% used water as a weight loss method.

Conclusion

Women's awareness of a healthy weight should be promoted if efforts to achieve weight loss are to be effective.

Misclassification of Self-Reported Body Mass Index Categories

BACKGROUND

Overweight and obesity are an increasingly serious public health problem in Western societies, including Germany. The tendency of overweight and obese people not to classify themselves as such limits the efficacy of information on the health risks of these conditions and lessens the motivation to change behavior accordingly. In this article, we summarize the available study data on the selfperception of weight class. We present and discuss the differences between selfreported body-mass index (BMI) category and the actual category of the BMI when it is calculated from the individual's measured height and weight.

METHODS

We systematically searched the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases in August 2017 for pertinent publications. The study protocol was published in the PROSPERO register (CRD42017064230). Meta-analyses were calculable for a number of subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 50 studies from 25 countries were identified that contained findings on self-estimation of weight in a total of 173 971 study participants. The percentage of correct self-categorizations of BMI category varied from 16% to 83%, with marked heterogeneity of the population groups studied. In Europe, women overestimated their BMI category three times as often as men (RR: 3.22; 95% confidence interval: [2.87; 3.62], I2 = 0%). Most erroneous classifications were based on underestimates. Study participants of normal weight were more likely than others to categorize their BMI correctly. In European studies, 50.3-75.8% categorized their BMI correctly. Low socioeconomic status was associated with an incorrect perception of BMI.

CONCLUSION

The self-assignment of BMI categories is often erroneous, with underestimates being more common than overestimates. Physicians should take particular care to provide appropriate information to persons belonging to groups in which underestimating one's BMI is common, such as overweight people and men in general.

Joint pain within adult middle-aged women, attending a community clinic in a peri-urban area in South Africa: a cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of joint pain in women between the ages of 40 and 64 years who attended a community clinic in the Free State to provide micro-information for health care planners.

METHODS

A sample of convenience was utilized in the cross-sectional survey. Health care workers were recruited to conduct the survey. Outcome measures included the Community-Oriented-Programme-For-The-Control-Of-Rheumatic-Disease questionnaire and European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions health related quality of life measure. Descriptive statistics were calculated for categorical data and non-parametric tests for ordinal data. Quality Adjusted Life Years lost were based on the preference weights generated by the European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions.

RESULTS

One thousand three hundred seventy-six participants were enrolled. The prevalence of joint pain experienced in either the short or the long term was 62.1% (CI 59.5-64.6%). The total number of Quality Adjusted Life Years lost in this sample was 41.4, that is a rate of 3008.7 (CI 2740-3310) per 100,000.

CONCLUSION

Epidemiological transition seems to be rapidly taking place in South Africa and the prevalence of joint pain is considerable. Primary health care systems should develop a cost-effective approach to manage and identify joint pain and improve the health-related quality of life of those living with this. Implications for Rehabilitation Prevalence of joint pain is considerable. Consume large amounts of health and social resources. A protocol for routine screening should be developed in community clinics. Cost-effective approach to manage joint pain should be identified to improve healthrelated quality of life of individuals living with joint pain.

The missing link: exploring the intersection of gender, capabilities, and depressive symptoms in the context of chronic HIV

Depressive symptoms occur frequently among people living with HIV, especially women. These symptoms are associated with human, social, financial, and physical/natural capabilities and life stressors that differ between women and men. However, the link between depressive symptoms and functional limitations/disability is seldom discussed in the context of HIV, especially for gender-specific relationships. A cross-sectional survey of 1042 people living with HIV and using long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa was conducted from June to August 2014 to investigate the associations of disability, human, social, physical/natural, and financial capabilities, health, and adherence to ART, including possible gender-specific factors. Socio-demographic information, capabilities, health indicators, functional limitations/disability, and depressive symptoms (CES-D 10) were measured. We applied descriptive and bivariate statistics and multiple regression. Overall, 26% of people presented with depressive symptoms. Greater functional limitations and health symptoms and lower food security were strongly associated with depressive symptoms, while associations with financial capital and body mass index were gender-specific. The results call for the improvement of comprehensive care, including gender-sensitive mental health interventions. The results further indicate that functional limitations/disability needs to be considered, along with linking rehabilitation and livelihood programs with comprehensive HIV-care, in particular for those who experience depressive symptoms.

[Perception of body weight and of the probability of developing obesity in Mexican adults]

OBJECTIVE

To document the perception of body weight, the variables that are associated with a correct perception of it and with the perception about the probability of developing obesity at short-term in Mexican adult population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used data from the Perception of obsesity, eating behavior and physical activity questionnaire (POCAA, by its Spanish acronym), as well as household and anthropometric measurements obtained at Ensanut MC during May and October of 2016.

RESULTS

More than 90% of the population tend to underestimate their weight; 32% of the population said that they would be very likely to develop obesity at short-term; more than 90% considered that suffering from obesity is very serious. Having a correct perception of body weight and being overweight or obese by BMI, were positively related to the perception of developing obesity at short-term.

CONCLUSIONS

It is very relevant that individuals, regardless of the state of their weight, have an accurate perception of their body and the consequences to their health.