The Effects of Reproductive Factors on Weight Gain and Obesity across Age Cohorts in Metro Cebu, Philippines

Marilyn V. Cinco, University of San Carlos
Tita Lorna L. Perez, University of San Carlos

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. One of the risk factors identified that may predispose a person to develop heart disease is obesity. Obesity is rapidly increasing and has rapidly reached the status of a global epidemic. In the Philippines, a growing proportion of the population has become overweight and/or obese. Using data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS)in the Philippines, this study examined the association between two reproductive factors: 1) parity and 2) age at menarche and overweight/obesity by age cohort in four survey rounds: 1983-84, 1991, 1998 and 2005. Results of descriptive analysis showed that weight, body mass index (BMI)and parity increased with age. The mean age at menarche was 12. The findings of the longitudinal analyses on the associations between the reproductive factors and overweight/obesity will have important implications in terms of knowledge and policy plans.