Association between Anxiety, Overweight and Obesity in Adults Attached to a Family Medicine Unit

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the association between anxiety, overweight and obesity in adults attached to a family medicine unit. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study conducted in the Family Medicine Unit (fmu) no. 77 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (imss), in the State of Mexico, from March to October 2019; the study included adults from 18 to 65 year-old, of both genders, who were overweight or obese. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (stai) was used to determine the degree of anxiety and the Body Mass Index (bmi) was measured. Descriptive analysis was performed with central trend measures and the χ²  test was used to analyze the association of variables. Results: 282 patients were included, 32 of whom were overweight, 117, had obesity class I, 100, obesity class ii and 33, obesity class iii. In assessing the degree of anxiety, 37 patients did not report anxiety, 109, had mild anxiety, 88, moderate anxiety and 48, severe anxiety. A statistically significant association (p<0.05) between anxiety, overweight and obesity was determined. Conclusion: most patients tested had some degree of anxiety; there is a statistically significant association between anxiety, overweight and obesity; a timely diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid future complications associated with the studied variables.