4
Data analysis
Data was entered into an SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) database version 19. Descriptive statistics were initially used to describe and synthesise the data. Inferential statistics were subsequently used to make inferences about the population. Relationships between categorical variables were examined using chi-square analyses, between continuous variables using Pearson's product moment correlation test and for relationship between continuous and categorical variables using one-way ANOVA. Logistic regression was used to report maximum likelihood. An alpha level of 0.05 was used for all statistical tests.
Outcome measures were defined according to the definitions within the literature. Women were classified into three separate BMI groups: moderate obese (BMI 40–44), extremely obese (BMI 45–49) and super extremely obese (BMI ≥ 50).