[Obesity in a walk-in consultation office]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Obesity is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding obesity prevalence in diverse clinical settings is crucial for targeted interventions.
• Demand clinics serve a unique patient population whose health characteristics may differ from the general population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of obesity among patients attending a demand clinic.
• To investigate the relationship between obesity and demographic factors (age, sex).
• To explore the association of obesity with clinic visit frequency and consultation type.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 301 adult patients (113 males, 188 females) attending a demand clinic.
• Measurements included weight, height, and Body Mass Index (BMI).
• Statistical analysis to evaluate obesity prevalence and its correlation with age, sex, frequentation rate, and consultation type.

Main Results:

• The overall obesity prevalence was 52.62%.
• Obesity was more prevalent in females (65%) compared to males.
• Age was significantly associated with obesity in females.
• Weight and age influenced frequentation and consultation type in females; age influenced these factors in males.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is highly prevalent in this demand clinic population, exceeding 50%.
• Higher obesity rates in females highlight a potential gender disparity requiring specific attention.
• Age and sex are important factors influencing obesity and healthcare-seeking behaviors in this setting.