Prevalence of Obesity among Rehabilitated Urban Slum Dwellers and Altered Body Image Perception in India (PRESUME)

Background: An understudied risk factor for overweight/obesity in our population is distorted body image perception where studies from the west have proved a clear association between the two. We therefore aimed to evaluate the same and document the prevalence of overweight/obesity among rehabilitated slum dwellers. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted during February 2015. The participants were recruited from among permanent residents of Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board residential apartment blocks. Systematic random sampling followed by cluster sampling was done. All consenting individuals above 18 years of age were included. Pregnant women, bed-ridden patients, and those who had an acute illness in the last 2 weeks were excluded. Data were collected using a semi-structured standardized pilot-tested questionnaire which included Stunkard's figure rating scale. Results: Number of families included was 170 comprising 315 individuals. Prevalence of overweight was 36.5% and prevalence of obesity was 12.4%. Prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was 68.3% (women 68.9% and men 67%), and prevalence of body image distortion was 59% (women 57.5% and men 62.1%). Distorted body image (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.927; 1.057, 3.514) and underestimating body image size (aOR; 95% CI: 8.001; 4.223, 15.159) were highly significant predictors of obesity as estimated by logistic regression. Conclusion: Although majority of population belonged to daily wage laborer workforce, prevalence of overweight is high. Distorted ideal and current body image perception is also significantly high and is a definite risk factor for obesity.