Knowledge of Obesity and Its Impact on Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Urban Women

• Published in: Journal of community health 2013-04, Vol.38 (2), p.261-267
• Main Authors: Cardozo, Eden R., Dune, Tanaka J., Neff, Lisa M., Brocks, Maureen E., Ekpo, Geraldine E., Barnes, Randall B., Marsh, Erica E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; African Americans; Aged; Birth defects; Body Weight; Breast cancer; Cancer; Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; Community and Environmental Psychology; Community Relations; Education; Employment Level; Endometrial cancer; Ethics; Exhibits; Family Income; Female; Females; Gynecology; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Health risks; Humans; Infertility; Knowledge Level; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obesity; Obesity - complications; ORIGINAL PAPER; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - etiology; Prospective Studies; Public Health; Reproductive Health; Risk; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban areas; Urban Population; Women; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0094-5145; 1573-3610
• DOI: 10.1007/s10900-012-9609-1

This prospective survey study assessed the knowledge of reproductive outcomes that are affected by obesity among women in an urban community. A total of 207 women attending a community fair on the south side of Chicago participated in the study. A survey assessing knowledge of BMI and of the effects of obesity on general, cardiometabolic and reproductive health outcomes was administered. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 70 years (mean ± SD, 48.6 ± 12.9 years) and ranged in BMI from 17.3 to 52.1 kg/m² (mean ± SD, 31.2 ± 6.7 kg/m²). The following percentages of women were aware that obesity increases the risk of miscarriage (37.5 %), irregular periods (35.8 %), infertility (33.9 %), cesarean section (30.8 %), breast cancer (28.0 %), birth defects (23.7 %), stillbirth (14.1 %), and endometrial cancer (18.1 %). This study found that while women in an urban community are aware of the cardiometabolic risks associated with obesity, they demonstrate limited knowledge of the effects of obesity on reproductive outcomes. Public education is needed to increase knowledge and awareness of the reproductive consequences of obesity. Women of reproductive age may be uniquely responsive to obesity education and weight loss intervention.