Associations of Underweight, Overweight and Obesity with Self-care History in the Youth

Introduction: The adverse effects of underweight, overweight, and obesity on health could increase the risk of chronic, non-communicable diseases and disability among the youth. Self-care plays a pivotal role in lifestyle management. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations of underweight, overweight, and obesity with self-care history in the youth. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,140 young participants aged18-29 years in Aqqala city, located in the north of Iran. Data were collected using the self-care measuring scale, which is commonly applied by the Iranian Ministry of Health. A case-control study had been designed in which the participants with normal weight were considered as controls, and the underweight, overweight, and obese subjects were considered as the case groups to evaluate the associations with self-care history. Results: The prevalence of obesity, overweight, normal weight, and underweight among the youth was estimated at 8.8%, 23.6%, 58.4%, and 9.2%, respectively. The frequency of self-care history based on the self-care measuring scale was considered to be inadequate, moderate, and favorable in 2.4%, 69.3%, and 28.3% of the participants, respectively. A significant association was observed between underweight and self-care history (OR: 4.46; 95%CI: 1.54-12.20; P<0.001). In addition, factors such as gender (P=0.001), education level (P=0.002), marital status (P=0.001), and self-care history (P=0.038) had significant correlations with the weight classifications in the participants. Conclusion: According to the results, the underweight individuals had an inadequate self-care history and were at a higher risk of diseases. Therefore, they required proper planning for self-care.