BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight is rapidly escalating, especially in South-Asia. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity, and associated risk factors among women in a rural setting of Nepal. METHODS: A cross-sectional study addressing reproductive health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was conducted 2012-2013 in a rural district of Nepal. Married, non-pregnant women ≥15 years of age were included. Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) calculated. WHO cut-offs for Asians were used to assess the prevalence of overweight (23.0-27.4 kg/m RESULTS: Altogether, 1,391 women 43.1 ± 14.4 years of age were included. The majority belonged to the Adhivasi/Janajati ethnicity, were uneducated and worked in agriculture. Altogether, 30.5% were overweight, 12.0% obese, and 34.2% centrally obese
25.7% were both overweight/obese and centrally obese. Underweight (<
18.5 kg/m CONCLUSION: We observed a high prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity among women in a rural district of Nepal, which entails an increased risk of metabolic complications and NCDs. Our findings underscore the need for public health programs addressing nutritional patterns and physical activity to prevent obesity.