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ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe obesity related common medical problems in adult obese
patients visiting civil hospital Karachi
METHOD: This was a prospective comparative study, conducted at medical OPD of
Civil hospital Karachi in the Year 2008. One hundred sixty subjects aged were above
30 years were included in this study. These subjects were divided in three groups
according to body mass index (BMI). The patients with BMI of >25, 23-24.9 & 18.5-
22.9 were considered obese, over weight & normal respectively. Obesity related medical
complications were observed in all three groups through history, clinical examination
and investigations.
RESULTS: Of the 160 patients, females were 86 (54%) and male were 74 (46%). Their
Mean age was 51.73 +_ 11 years. Fifty six (56) were obese, Fifty four (54) were over
weight and fifty (50) were of normal weight. Osteoarthritis was found to be number one
complication (71.4%) in obese patients as compared to 48% in over weight patients and
16% in normal weight patients. The other medical complications in these three groups
of patients respectively were as follows. Hypertension (50%, 37%, 4%), Ischemic heart
disease (50%, 33.3% and 16%), Heart failure (43%, 33.3% and 3%), Stroke (39.3%,6%
and 2%), Hyperlipidemia (68%, 63% and 16%), Diabetes (57%, 40.7% and 12%),
GERD (68%, 63% and 16%), Fatty liver (50% ,37% and 8%), Gall stones (53.6%,
33.3% and 4%) and sleep disorder (50%, 26% and 12%). All these results were
statistically significant ( p< 0.05) with increasing BMI of these patients.
CONCLUSION: A broad range of diseases and health problems are associated with
obesity and over weight patients burden. Clinicians need to be aware of these problems
and efforts should be made for the prevention of the disease burden.
KEY WORDS: Obesity Over weight Medical Problems
INTRODUCTION:
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide 1. This increase
crosses all ages, genders, racial/ethnic groups, and income and educational levels 2.
Obesity is now so common within th