Evaluation of Obesity Prevalence and Physical Activity and Health Responsibility in Elazig City Population ()
1. Introduction
Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, and largely preventable disease, affecting, along with overweight, over a third of the world’s population today [1] [2] [3] . It is considered as one of the riskiest 10 diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) [4] . It is reported in various studies that prevalence of overweight and obesity does not increase only in Turkey but also in US, England and Europeans countries as well as Australia, Brazil, Chine in different rates [5] . If secular trends continue, by 2030 an estimated 38% of the world’s adult population will be overweight and another 20% will be obese [2] [6] . In the America (USA), the most dire projections based on earlier secular trends point to over 85% of adults being overweight or obese by 2030 [7] . In addition, obesity prevalence in developing countries continues to trend upwards toward US levels [2] .
Though the occurrence of the obesity is affected by many factors, the main reason lies behind the fact that the energy generated by the balance disorder in energy intake and expenditure turns into a storage of fat in the body, thus impairing the body composition [8] [9] [10] . Reflecting the overall health and welfare of individuals at all ages, anthropometric measurement is a universal non-invasive method that assesses the proportions and type of the performance, health and body components [10] . Body composition assessments comprise the most significant use of value of health in anthropometric measurements. Recently there have been advances in conceptual models related to body composition. There is a balanced relationship between body composition components [11] .
Though Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common practical method used to assess the obesity prevalence [4] , the fat mass and the fat distribution in the body cannot be given clearly. BMI cannot assess the fat distribution according to the body regions. Thus, just as various methods such as BIA, DEXA, BT, MR that measure local fat distribution in the body, so too anthropometric measurements such as skinfold thickness measurement, waist circumference (WC), waist hip ratio (WHR) are applied [12] . Over the last years, BIA method, developed based on the fact that its fat-free adipose tissue mass and adipose tissue have a distinctive permittivity, has been widely used as it gives fast results through a portable device without any need for a user [13] . Waist and hip ration (WHR) is the very first anthropometric method developed from epidemiological studies as an indicator of the body fat distribution [14] . Increase in abdominal adipose tissue increases the risk caused by obesity and thus rise in WC and WHR negatively affects the health. For example, while the risk level for diabetes has increased by 3.7 times in obese women, this rise is 10.3 in abdominal obese women [15] .
Healthy lifestyle behaviors are not aiming to prevent any disease or disorder but to improve general health and welfare [16] . It is pointed out that today majority of the health problems are stemmed from a lack of stances and behaviors towards health and a sedentary lifestyle [17] [18] . Body composition can be protected with an adequate and balanced nutrition as well as a lifestyle with regular exercises. Every individual has the right to be healthy. Therefore, development of health responsibility and sustainable behaviors for its protection together with regular exercises serve as the basis for the issue. The level of welfare of a society may be assessed based on the predomination of healthy individuals in the relevant society. When developing healthy behaviors, it is crucial for the individual to maximize his/her responsibility and put efforts for health promotion [19] .
In modern societies individuals generally are observed to face changes in body composition and obesity problems caused by overnutrition or sedentary life. This study seeks to estimate the obesity prevalence of the Elazığ population, a city in Turkey, and to investigate risk factors and its related variables as well as the physical activity, health responsibility and food habits.
2. Material and Method
2.1. Participants
The population of the study is comprised of Elazig province population in Turkey. The sample is comprised of male and female residents of center, neighboring counties and villages of Elazig. The sample includes totally 5036 voluntary subjects between the ages of 20 and 69, 2905 (57.7%) of whom are male and 2131 (42.3%) female, selected randomly from those working at public bodies.
2.2. Study Procedures
Data of the study have been obtained via questionnaire and physical fitness measurements. All subjects were informed about the aim and method of the test in accordance with Helsinki declaration along with their consent of voluntary participation. For the implementation of the study, necessary permissions were obtained from official local ethical committees and bodies. Besides, this study was supported by Scientific Research Projects Unit of Firat University, Elazig.
2.3. Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II)
For Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors, the “Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale”, developed by Walker, Sechrist and Pender in 1987 [20] , was used. The validity and reliability study of the scale in Turkey was carried out by Esinin 1997 [21] . All items of the scale are positive, and a 4-point Likert scale was prepared. For each item, 1 (never), 2 (sometimes), 3 (frequently) and 4 (regularly) points were given respectively. Questions within the scale measure the behaviors that improve health related to the healthy lifestyle of the individual. The rise in the points available within the scale shows that the specified health behaviors are conducted by the individual at a high level. The alpha reliability coefficient of the scale varies between 0.70 - 0.90. The lowest point is 48, and the highest is 192. The scale has 6 subgroups of assessment. In this study, three sub dimensions of assessments, health responsibility, exercise habit and nutrition habit, were used.
2.4. Body Composition Measurements
The subjects, whose body height and waist circumference (WC) from the navel level was measured, were subjected to body composition measurement. The body weight and composition assessments of the subjects were carried out by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) (Jawon Segmental Body Composition Analyzer, model AVIS 333 Plus) [22] . The measurements of the subjects were made between 8 and 12 in the mornings without fluid and food intake before dinner and after relieving themselves. Their ornaments and metals were removed. Individuals were asked to stand on the aluminum groundsills of the device in a vertical position with light wear and bare feet, and to grip the hand electrodes. Data were recorded via computer connected to the body composition analyzer. Based on the declarations of the subjects, those using diuretic and high blood pressure medication and having renal failure were excluded. As for women, measurements were postponed depending on the menstrual cycle.
2.5. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Body mass index of the subjects based on weight/height2 formulae was calculated through Body Composition Analyzer (model AVIS 333 Plus) [22] . Results were assessed depending on the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), in which <18.5 is underweight, the range between 18.5 - 24.9 is normal, 25.0 - 29.9 is pre-obese, 30.0 - 34.9 is Obese Type-I, 35.0 - 39.9 is Obese Type-II and over 40 is Obese Type-III [10] . Besides, self-perception levels of body shapes by subjects were assessed with four options including 1 = Underweight, 2 = Normal, 3 = Overweight and 4 = Obese in line with the question “How do you evaluate your body shape when compared to others having the same socio-economic levels as you do?”.
2.6. Statistical Analysis
Data obtained from subjects were analyzed through SPSS 22.0 statistical package software along with calculations of frequencies, means and percentage (%) ratios in tables. To understand whether the data demonstrated the normal distribution or not, they were tested with Shapiro-Wilk and it was observe that data showed a normal distribution. The Independent samples t-test, Chi-Square test, one-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used respectively for paired comparison, determination of the relationship between categorical and demographic variables and determination of the difference between groups. As a result of ANOVA, Tukey HSD test was carried out to determine from which group the difference came from. Furthermore, to investigate the role of age, sex and some variables in regression of obesity, the binary logistic regression analysis was used. The correlational relationships between parameters were assessed through Regression Analysis. Results were assessed at a confidence range of 95% while significance was assessed at the level of p < 0.001, p < 0.05.
3. Results
In Table 1, obesity prevalence and BMI means distribution are given based on age groups. It was observed that obesity prevalence in general population was
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Table 1. Body mass index and obesity prevalence distribution based on age groups.
(Assessments were made by combining 1-2Underweight and Normal and 3Obese I-II-III groups in statistical analyzes).
38.4% and that obese had overweight body shape based on BMI mean value (27.15). Significant differences were observed between BMI and obesity prevalence among age groups in both men and women, and that there was a huge rise in parallel with the rise in the age (R = 0.243, p < 0.001). It was also observed that this rise had an impact by 24.3%. It was also shown in Figure 1 that the body shape began changing in men and women as of the age 35 along with an upwards trend towards overweight and obese shape and that there was a linear relationship between age and body shape.
Some results related to the linear regression and X2 analysis of the obesity prevalence of men and women based on some demographic variables are given in Table 2. It was found that subjects living in the city center (38.4%) had higher obesity prevalence ratio (p < 0.001) than those living in the outside of the city (31.6%). However, it was also found that there was no linear relationship between BMI values and the place of living (R = 0.001, p > 0.05). It was observed that workers, retirees and housewives in occupation variable, primary school graduates in education variable and married people in marital status variable had higher obesity prevalence and that there was a weak linear significant relationship between BMI values. It was also found that the level of education and occupation, and the marital status had 4% and 1.2% impact on the increase in BMI values respectively (Table 2).
Table 3 shows the chronic disease status of adult men and women and the relational distribution between body shape and abdominal obesity and WC. According to the featured results, among the men and women those who have notably diabetes and hypertension have higher WC values compared to those having no disease or other chronic diseases (Table 3, p < 0.001).
Waist-to-hipratio (WHR) (men > 1.0, women > 0.80) Waist circumference (WC) central obesity (men 102 cm, women 88 cm) between men and women
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Figure 1. Age and body type relationship.
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Table 2. Distribution of adult male and female obesity prevalence based on some variables.
(Assessments were made by combining 1-2Underweight and Normal and 3Obese I-II-III groups in statistical analyzes).
and relationship levels between health risk limits and age groups are given in Table 4. According to the ratios of WHR (men > 1.0; 17.1%, women > 0.80; 82.1%) and WC (men 102 cm; 29.3, women 88 cm; 38.2%), women were found to have higher ratios than men in terms of prevalence and that in general population WHR risk ratio was 44.6% and WC risk ratio was 33.0% (Table 4, p < 0.001).
Table 5 shows results related to physical activity, nutrition, health responsibility and obesity prevalence. As shown in Table 5, while the ratio of those having no physical activity is 27.7%, the ratio of regular and frequent exercisers is 20.1%. It was determined that there was a significant relationship level between body shape and physical activity and that overweight and obese people had more physical activities compared to underweight people(p < 0.001). The same situation applies to nutrition habits and health responsibility behaviors as well.
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Table 3. Distribution based on the Waist circumference abdominal obesity prevalence and chronic disease status variable of the men and women.
(Assessments were made by combining 1-2Underweight and Normal and 3Obese I-II-III groups in statistical analyzes).
Within the binary logistic regression analysis model, two variables ? dependent variables as “There is the problem of obesity” (those overweight and having body shape of obese I-II-III) and “There is not the problem of obesity” (those having underweight-normal body shape) were taken as basis. Independent variables were assessed as sex, age, level of education, marital status, the place of living (city center-countryside), occupation, physical activity, health responsibility and nutrition habits. Model estimates obtained from analysis results are given in Table 6. Based on the sex variable, men were found to have higher level of obesity significantly (Odds = 1.232, 95% Exp(β) = 1.072 - 1.416 p = 0.003). Accordingly, it is estimated that men have 1.232 times more obesity than women. Based on age variable, it was calculated that as the level of age increased, the level of obesity rose and that the impact of age on the rise in obesity levels was 1.740 times more. Considering the impact of level of education on obesity (Odds = 0.880, 95% Exp(β) = 0.823 - 0.940 p = 0.001), primary school graduates faced 0.88 times more obesity problems than university graduates (Table 6).
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Table 4. Distribution of WHR and WC health risk ratios of men and women based on age groups.
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Table 5. Distribution of physical activity, nutrition and health responsibility habits of subjects as healthy lifestyle behaviors.
*significant at p < 0.001 level.
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Table 6. Binary logistic regression analysis results of obesity prevalence based on some variables.
4. Discussion
Obesity and overweight are among the critical public health problems as they affect a third of the world population. Obesity prevalence has different patterns not only internationally but also nationally. These differences vary mainly depending on socio-economic situation or level of urbanization [10] [23] . The rise in obesity over the past 35 years has been affected by various potential factors such as rises in the calorie intake, changes in dietary composition, decrease in physical activities and changes in intestine microbiome [23] [24] [25] [26] . It is reported that obesity rates in the world have tripled since 1975 and that 39% of adults at the age of and over 18 were overweight and 13% of them were obese in 2016 [27] . Considering the obesity rates in Organization for EconomicCo-operation and Development (OECD) countries, it is shown that in 2015 US had highest obesity rates with 38.2% followed by Mexico with 32.4% among the adults. Turkey is ranked the 13th with 22.3% [28] . While obesity prevalence was 15.2 in 2008, it rose to by 19.9% in 2014 and by 8.3% in 2017, reaching a rate of 22.3%. Turkey is ranked the 27th based on the adult obesity levels around the world with 29.5% of the adult population being obese [27] . In this province-based study, considering individuals over 20 it was found that obesity prevalence in women was 37.9%, 38.8% in men, 38.4% in general population and that combination of overweight and obese people was 70.1% (Table 1). In a study done in Trabzon province, Turkey, the rate of those overweight and obese was found as 60.3% [29] . It can be concluded that inter-regional differences in obesity prevalence in Turkey differ in relation to nutrition habits. For example, as Aegean Sea and Mediterranean cuisine is based on nutrition with mainly vegetables, the obesity level was found as 28% while East and Southeast Anatolian people who mainly live in countryside were found to have obesity level of 20% - 22%. Accordingly, as Central Anatolian Region people have a diet with high calories (grain, bread, etc.), the obesity level of them was found 33% while Marmara Region and Black Sea Region were found as 31% and 33% respectively [30] [31] . Elazığ, which is located in East Anatolia Region where the obesity prevalence was found 20% - 22%, from which the study population was chosen, was found to have a much higher level of obesity with 38.4%. According to a report in 2016, causes of death in Turkey stem from circulatory system-based diseases with 39.8%, cancer with 19.7% and respiratory system-based diseases with 11.9%. It was determined that among these circulator system-based deaths arise from ischemic with 40.5%, cerebro-vascular disease with 23.6% and hypertensive disease with 8.8% [32] . This applies to Elazığ, which comprises the study population in the study. According to data obtained in 2017, it was shown that the main causes of death were cardiac diseases at the top followed by cancer diseases [33] . WHO reports that obesity induces a range of diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiac-circulatory failure and diabetes mellitus and thus affects organs and systems of the body [27] . Obesity and inactive lifestyle are potential factors in diseases ranked at the top of death causes.
According to the reports of WHO, while the rate of obese children and adolescents at the age of 5 - 19 was just under 1% in 1975, in 2016 6% of girls and 8% of boys were obese [27] . Globally the main reason of the obesity and overweight is the calorie intake and degeneration of the energy between these calories. This study has shown that those living in the city center 38.4% are more obese than those living outside the city center 31.6% (Table 2). This situation matches up with WHO findings. It can be concluded that rise in high-energy fatty food consumption and physical inactivity caused by changing inactive lifestyle and rise in urbanization are among the primary factors that trigger the obesity [27] . However, it is reported that in some countries obesity rates increase or decrease more slowly [34] . According to the OECD 2015 reports, the level of obesity is the lowest in Japan with 3.7%, India with 5.0%, in Italy with 9.8% and Switzerland with 10.3% respectively [28] .
As societies are aging, the obesity prevalence continues to pose a risk for the global health. Coupled with aging, there exists a decrease in muscle, bone and body cell mass. In this case, “Disordered body composition” and skeletal muscle atrophy or sarcopenia is prevalent and thus the elderly population in this case is under risk [35] . The findings of the study show that with the increasing age, obesity level increases in both men and women and body shape undergoes change especially at the age of 35 and that there exists a linear relationship between aging and obesity (Figure 1, p < 0.001). Besides, as a result of the estimations through binary logistic regression analysis it is estimated that the impact of aging on the rise in level of obesity is 1.740 times more and that rate of incidence of obesity is 1.232 times more in men than women (Table 6). As it is, men are likely to be at greater risk of obesity in the future. Given the importance of abdominal fat in cardiovascular risk, it is possible that alterations in central body fat are important in the worsening of metabolic risk associated with weight regain [36] . Obesity is considered among the riskiest 10 diseases by WHO and affects a range of chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, organs and systems of the body [27] . Abdominal obesity risk level was found as 44.6% in WC and 33.0% in WHR within the general population of this study. It was also observed that rising in parallel with the increasing age, the abdominal obesity level posed a critical health risk (Table 4) and especially those with hypertension and diabetes had obesity level of 50% - 55% (Table 3) and that findings overlapped the literature [37] [38] [39] .
Recently obesity and overweight prevalence has increased in many industrial countries, making it depressing for many populations. It is reported that more particularly in developing countries along with the developing level of welfare and domestic income, reasons such as changes in nutrition habits of individuals and insufficient physical activities increase the level of obesity [4] [40] [41] [42] . This study backs up this report as it shows that subjects have healthy lifestyle behaviors with low rates of 3.4% for regular physical activity, 26.0% for health responsibility and 38.4% for regular nutrition habits (Table 5). It is believed that this fact creates a risk for public health for the province. Every individual has the responsibility to protect their health and turn this into a healthy lifestyle habit. Therefore, positive health behaviors are regarded as conscious efforts to keep the community health. It was determined in this study that workers (43.3%), retirees (63.8%) and housewives (62.9%) in occupation variable, primary school graduates (54.2%) in level of education variable, the married ones (39.8%) in marital status variable had higher level of obesity (Table 2). According to the findings of binary logistic regression analysis (Table 6), primary school graduates had 0.88 times more obesity level than university graduates; married ones had 0.68 times more obesity level than singles or widows; workers, retirees and housewives had 1.097 times more obesity level than those with other occupations; those without physical activity habits had 1.225 times more level of obesity; those with irregular nutrition habits had 1.098 times more level of obesity; and those with irregular health responsibility habits had higher level of obesity. Regular physical activity not only helps maintain the energy balance but also plays a key role in decreasing health risks arisen from the obesity and the mortality rate caused by these risks [40] . Though regular physical activity is seen as the key fact of a healthy lifestyle, an increasingly prevalent inactive lifestyle in the society complicates the treatment process of the obesity. This situation bears hard on economies of countries with huge expenditures on health.
5. Conclusion
As a conclusion, alterations in obesity prevalence in Turkey and around the world continue to be a huge problem as the danger is imminent. As seen from findings of this study, main crucial factors causing obesity prevalence are sedentary lifestyle, insufficient physical activity, nutrition and health responsibility habits, posing a risk for health. It is concluded that more particularly developing countries should take preventive measures.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Firat University Scientific Research Project Unit for their support. Furthermore authors are thankful to the relevant unit, staff of Provincial Health Directorate and researchers for their devotion.
NOTES
*This study has been presented in 15-18 November 2017 at 15th International Sport Sciences Congress held in Antalya/Turkey.