RESEARCH PAPER
Demographic and lifestyle factors affecting BMI and weight satisfaction of physicians in Babylon Province
 
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1
College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
 
2
College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
 
 
Submission date: 2024-09-06
 
 
Final revision date: 2024-11-22
 
 
Acceptance date: 2024-11-23
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-01-10
 
 
Corresponding author
Qais Ismaeel Kadhem   

College of Medicine, University of Babylon, Babylon, Babil, 1234, Hilla, Iraq
 
 
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Obesity, defined by a high body mass index (BMI), is a significant global health issue that has increased over recent decades, leading to higher rates of type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and some cancers.

Aim:
To explore the demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors affecting obesity in medical professionals, identify causes, and create effective weight control strategies.

Material and methods:
A cross-sectional study of 200 physicians utilized face-to-face interviews and a standardized questionnaire to gather data on demographics, lifestyle, and weight management, with BMI assessed according to WHO guidelines.

Results and discussion:
In Babylon, a troubling 75.5% of physicians are overweight or obese, with the highest rates among women aged over 46, likely due to menopause. Additionally, 78% of those who do not exercise regularly have elevated BMI levels. Factors like job stress and ineffective weight management exacerbate obesity, particularly among private clinic physicians. Notably, 56.5% of physician’s express dissatisfaction with their weight, especially those in higher BMI categories.

Conclusions:
A study reveals a strong correlation between BMI and age in female physicians, with obesity rates soaring to 59.1% in those aged 46 and older, primarily due to menopause. Overall, 75.5% of physicians fall into overweight or obese categories, especially among middle-aged individuals. Key factors influencing higher BMI include insufficient exercise and failed weight loss efforts. Furthermore, there is a notable inverse relationship between weight dissatisfaction in overweight and obese individuals compared to those with normal weight.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors want to thank Babylon University for support.
FUNDING
No funding.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No conflict of interest.
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