# Using the socioecological model to explore factors associated with obesity among reproductive age women

## TL;DR

This study explores factors linked to obesity in women of reproductive age, finding that physical activity and food insecurity are significant individual-level factors.

## Contribution

The study applies the socioecological model to identify individual-level factors associated with obesity in reproductive-age women.

## Key findings

- High/moderate physical activity was associated with lower odds of obesity compared to being overweight.
- Food insecurity was significantly linked to increased odds of obesity.
- Interpersonal and environmental factors showed no significant associations with obesity in this sample.

## Abstract

Women of reproductive age (18–44 years) are at an increased risk of developing obesity due to pregnancy, life-transitions, and marginalization. Obesity in women negatively affects women’s health and pregnancy outcomes and can increase risk their children will develop obesity. Less is known about obesity risk at the interpersonal and environmental levels for women of reproductive age. This study uses the socioecological model to explore women’s obesity risk across ecological levels.

A secondary cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data (March 2019–June 2022) from the cluster-randomized Healthy Eating and Active Living Taught at Home (HEALTH) Dissemination and Implementation study. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine associations between individual, interpersonal, and environmental level factors with weight status (overweight vs. obesity).

Among 221 participants (43% Hispanic/Latino, 51% High school or less), 37% were overweight and 63% had obesity. Interpersonal and environmental factors were not statistically significantly associated with obesity relative to overweight in bivariate analyses. In multivariate models, individual level factors of high/moderate physical activity (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26,0.84, p = 0.01) and food insecurity (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.33,4.71, p = 0.00) were statistically significantly related to risk of having obesity compared to being overweight.

Physical activity and food insecurity were associated with obesity in this study. Associations with interpersonal and environmental level factors were not statistically significant, which may be due to limited sample size or measures available to assess these levels. Future studies should investigate structural determinants (e.g., economic, neighborhood and physical environment), which may drive physical activity and food insecurity.