Abstract:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity in individuals who applied to the Family Medicine Centers. This descriptive study was carried out on 739 subjects (subjects included 473 men and 266 women), who agreed to participate in this study, aged 20 and older, who applied to Family Medicine Centers in Elazig in the period February 2015 for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Data were collected by the interviewers with the questionnaire method. Obesity was assessed according to Body Mass Index BMI (BMI ≥ 30). Participants were classified as inactive and active. Participants who comply with physical activity recommendations (150 minutes per week, 5 days a week for 30 minutes moderate exercise) were classified as active. Data were analyzed by using chi-square, variance analysis and t test. The level of significance was accepted as < 0.05. The mean age of participants in this research was 40.5±12.7 years and 64.0% (n=473) were women, 36.0% (n=266) were men. The mean BMI was 26.8±5.3 kg/m2. As the age grows up, body mass index rises as well, and female average body mass index was significantly higher than male (p < 0.05). 23.0% of the subjects were categorized as obese, and 30.7% as overweight, 46.3% displayed normal body mass index (BMI). In comparison of women and men, 27.3% and 15.4% were included in the obese group. 429 (58.1%) subjects were classified as physically inactive. 124 of them were men and 305 were women. From the 310 (41.9%) subjects who were classified as active, 168 were women, 142 were men. A significant difference was found between men and women (p < 0.05). And also there was statistically significant differences according to BMI between physically active and inactive individuals (p < 0.05). According to the results of this study, obesity and physical inactivity were found very common in Elazig. Activities should be organized for improving physical activity in adults

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