Impact of lifestyle on Obesity Categories Among Arbaeen Pilgrims, Iraq

Background: Diet, physical activity, sleep patterns, bowel habits, and consumption of sugary drinks are some of the lifestyle factors that contribute to obesity, a growing global health concern. Fast food consumption and sedentary lifestyles have led to an increase in obesity rates in Iraq. A special environment for evaluating lifestyle modifications and their effect on the severity of obesity is provided by the Al-Arbaeen pilgrimage. The study's objective is: to determine the predictors of severe obesity and evaluate the relationship between lifestyle factors and obesity classes among Al-Arbaeen participants. Method: During the Al-Arbaeen period, a cross-sectional study was carried out. A structured questionnaire was used to gather information on sociodemographics, dietary habits, physical activity levels, sleep duration, bowel habits, and soft drink consumption. Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) were examples of anthropometric measurements. Class I, Class II, and Class III obesity were distinguished. Descriptive comparisons and multivariate regression were used in the statistical analysis to find important predictors of the severity of obesity. Findings: Class Obesity was the most prevalent. Fast food, soft drinks, inactivity, poor sleep, sedentary work, and delayed bowel habits were all associated with higher obesity classes. As the degree of obesity increased, so did the waist circumference. A poor diet, inactivity, and gender were important predictors. Conclusion: Among Al-Arbaeen participants, lifestyle choices significantly influence the degree of obesity. To lower the risk of obesity and improve overall metabolic health, the findings highlight the necessity of focused health interventions that improve sleep patterns, increase physical activity, improve diet quality, and reduce consumption of sugary drinks.