Reproductive Health Morbidities, Body Mass Index and Body Fat percentage: A community-based cross-sectional study among the urban women of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Abstract Background: Reproductive morbidity includes various conditions affecting the reproductive tract or resulting from reproductive behavior. The relationship between BMI, body fat, and reproductive health is not well-understood, especially in India and Odisha. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of reproductive health morbidities and explore associations between BMI, body fat percentage, and these morbidities among urban women in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Design: A community-based cross-sectional study. Methods: The study involved 210 women aged 15-49 from Bhubaneswar's urban areas. Information was gathered on sociodemographics, gynecological and menstrual history, obstetric history, family history of morbidities, and personal history of diet, lifestyle, and physical activity. Anthropometric measurements were assessed. Outcomes were self-reported symptoms of reproductive health morbidities experienced within the past year, categorized into menstrual disorders, RTIs/STIs, and PCOS. The presence of one or more symptoms was considered an outcome. Results: The mean age of participants was 30.49 ± 8.45 years, with 52.4% aged ≤30 years. Irregular menstruation was the most prevalent symptom (17.14%). Significant associations were observed between self-reported symptoms suggestive of menstrual disorders, RTI/STIs, PCOS, and BMI categories. Total body fat percentage and symptoms of menstrual disorders and PCOS were significantly associated with reproductive health morbidities. Among underweight women, 60% reported reproductive health morbidities. The logistic regression model indicated that the highest odds of experiencing reproductive morbidities were found among overweight women and those with high to very high body fat percentages. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the greatest prevalence of reproductive health morbidities (RTI/STI, PCOS, menstrual symptoms) among women in the overweight and underweight BMI category and those with high to very high body fat percentages. A binomial logistic regression analysis highlights the influence of age, employment status, regular exercise, and BMI classifications on reproductive health morbidities within the study population, urban women of Bhubaneswar. These associations were statistically significant, emphasizing the need to address BMI and body fat percentage in reproductive health initiatives in Bhubaneswar's urban areas, Odisha, India.