Predictors of Body Mass Index among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in Jordan
Abstract
The objective of this study is to assess the possibles determinants of body mass index among women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 PCOS women aged between 18 to 45 years old in Jordan. The study included a structured questionnaire divided into six sections: demographic data, anthropometric measurements, medical history, dietary habits, physical activity, quality of life and mental health status. Binary logistic regression has been used to identify the predictors of body mass index. Among 120 participants, 37.5% were underweight or had normal weight, while 62.5% were overweight or obese. The median age was 28.0 years for the overweight/obese group and 27.0 years for the underweight/normal-weight group (p<0.001). Women with higher income and education levels were at lower risk of being overweight or obese (p<0.05). Overweight/obese women reported significantly lower levels of physical activity (p<0.05). Higher consumption of sugar, vitamin D, vitamin C, selenium, and iron was observed in underweight/normal-weight women compared to the overweight/obese group (p<0.001) based on Mann-Whitney test. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that low education level (OR=0.359, 95% CI:0.142−0.908), good mental health status (OR=0.627, 95% CI:0.438−0.898) and greater waist circumference (OR=1.352, 95% CI:1.145−1.596) increased the risk of being overweight or obese. These findings suggest that socioeconomic, psychological, and central adiposity factors play important roles in the weight status of this population, highlighting the need for multifaceted approaches in obesity prevention and management.
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