La Prensa Médica

Prevalence of obesity among a group of Kirkuk women

Bilal Jamal Kamal

Obesity is globally considered as a pandemic with potentially serious consequences for human health. It was estimated that more than 20% of adults in the UK, and more than 30% in USA, are obese (i.e. body mass index, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Obesity prevalence has increased threefold within the last 20 years and continues to rise. About the prevalence of obesity in the developing countries, average national rates are not nearly so high, but the real figures show alarmingly high rates of obesity in many urban communities.

What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?

The BMI is a measured by dividing the weight on the height square. It is considered to be a good indicator for a person's healthy body weight, but it does not measure the exact percentage of body fat. The BMI measurement can sometimes be misleading - a muscular man may have a high BMI but have much less fat than an unfit person whose BMI is lower. However, in general, the BMI measurement is considered to be a useful indicator for the 'average person'.