Overweight and obesity prevalence and its predictors in a general population: A ‎community-based study in Kerman, Iran (Kerman coronary artery diseases risk factors ‎studies)‎

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to present age-sex standardized prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as central obesity and its associated variables in an adult population of Iran. METHODS: Around ۵۹۰۰ adult individuals aged ۱۵-۷۵ years enrolled to the study from ۲۰۰۹ to ۲۰۱۱ applying randomized cluster household survey in Kerman, southeastern of Iran. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) ۲۵-۲۹.۹ kg/m۲, obesity was considered as BMI ≥ ۳۰ kg/m۲, and central obesity was regarded as waist circumference (WC) > ۸۸ cm for women and ۱۰۲ cm for men. RESULTS: The overall age-sex standardized prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity was ۲۹.۶% (۲۹.۵% men, ۲۹.۷% women), ۱۳.۰% (۹.۳% men, ۱۶.۹% women) and ۱۴.۴% (۷.۵% men, ۲۱.۵% women), respectively. “Overweight/obesity” increased by age, [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): ۷.۹ ۹۵% confidence interval (CI): ۵.۸, ۱۰.۷)] for ۶۵-۷۵ years old, ۱۱.۷ (۹۵% CI: ۹, ۱۵.۳) for ۵۵-۶۵ years old, ۱۰.۱ (۹۵% CI: ۷.۸, ۱۳) for ۴۵-۵۴ years old compared with the first age group), female gender [AOR: ۱.۵ (۱.۳, ۱.۸); P < ۰.۰۰۱], higher education (AOR > ۱.۵ compared with illiterate individuals; P < ۰.۰۰۱), and low physical activity [AOR: ۱.۴ (۹۵% CI: ۱.۱, ۱.۸); P = ۰.۰۰۶] and decreased by smoking [AOR: ۰.۴ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۳, ۰.۶); P < ۰.۰۰۱] and opium using [AOR: ۰.۵ (۹۵% CI: ۰.۴, ۰.۷); P < ۰.۰۰۱]. Female gender [AOR: ۴.۱ (۹۵% CI: ۳.۳, ۵); P < ۰.۰۰۱], advanced (AOR > ۷ for age groups ≥ ۳۵ years old; P < ۰.۰۰۱) positively, while smoking [AOR: ۰.۶ (۰.۴, ۰.۸); P = ۰.۰۰۴] negatively were the most significant predictors for abnormal WC.  CONCLUSION: Our data reveal that overweight and obesity affected almost half of the adult population (۴۳.۰%), and central obesity was around ۱۵.۰%, which reflect the high prevalence of this abnormality. In addition, several demographic, social and lifestyle factors were associated with obesity. Appropriate interventions and strategies with a concentration of the general population are needed to deal with its potential subsequent consequences.

Keywords:

Body Mass Index , Overweight , Obesity , Central Obesity , Risk Factors , Iran