Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Women of Reproductive Age in Cambodia: Analysis of Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey

Overweight and obesity are associated with increased chronic disease and death rates globally. In Cambodia, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women is high and may grow. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age (WRA) in Cambodia. We analyzed data from the 2021-2022 Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) that used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Data analysis was restricted to non-pregnant women, resulting in an analytic sample of 9,417 WRA. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed using STATA V17 to examine factors associated with overweight and obesity. Prevalence of overweight and obesity among non-pregnant women of reproductive age was 22.56%, and 5.61% were overweight and obese, respectively. Factors independently associated with increased odds of overweight and obesity included women aged 20-29 years [AOR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.22 - 2.80], 30-39 years [AOR=3.34; 95% CI: 2.21 - 5.04], and 40-49 years [AOR=5.57; 95% CI: 3.76 - 8.25], married women [AOR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.71-3.62], women from middle wealth quintile [AOR=1.21; 95% CI: 1.02-1.44], and rich wealth quintile [AOR=1.44; 95% C: 1.19 - 1.73], having at least three children or more [AOR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.95], ever drink alcohol [AOR=1.24; 95% CI: 1.04 - 1.47], and current drink alcohol [AOR=1.2; 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.45]. On the contrary, the following factors were independently associated with decreased odds of having overweight and obese: women with at least secondary education [AOR=0.73; 95% CI: 0.58-0.91] and working in manual labor jobs [AOR=0.76; 95% CI: (0.64 - 0.90]. Increased age, married women, having at least three children, and alcohol consumption were the main risk factors associated with overweight and obesity. Conversely, higher education and manual labor were negatively associated with overweight and obesity. Cambodia’s non-communicable disease (NCD) public health programs should consider these characteristics for targeting interventions further to reduce overweight and obesity in the coming years.