R Heshmat, H Fakhrzadeh, R Pour-Ebrahim, M Nouri , M Pajouhi,
Volume 3, Issue 0 (7-2004)
Abstract
Background: Obesity and overweight, as the most common metabolic disorders, are great health problem during recent decades. Obesity takes a role as independent or concordant risk factor for many diseases. So, it has a considerable share in burden of morbidities and mortalities. Urbanization and its consequences in increasing of incomes and per capita energy uptake, besides the notable reduction in physical activities are the main causes of increased rates of obesity in developing countries. This survey has been conducted to evaluate the obesity and overweight status and their pattern among the inhabitants of 25-64 aged in 17th zone of Tehran, selected as Population Lab region.
Methods: This study is a part of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors Survey in the Population Lab region. This survey has been designed and conducted based on MONICA/WHO project. A total of 1573 people have been recruited and assessed on age, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were determined for comparing between groups.
Results: There was a significant difference in mean BMI between two sexes (26.13 kg/m2 in men vs. 28.86 kg/m2 in women). As well, WC and WHR were diverse between men and women (WC: 91.70 cm vs. 89.15 cm WHR: 0.91 vs. 0.85, respectively). Obesity prevalence was 18.6% among men and 38.3% among women. Prevalence of high WC and abnormal WHR were higher among women than men.
Conclusion: These results revealed that prevalence of obesity among adults was very high. The prevalence in women was more than two times than in men. This finding may be in part because of little physical activity and high proportions of carbohydrates intake instead of protein in daily energy uptake and also because of physiological differences among women. Proper and effective planning to achieve applied strategies for improving the social knowledge and awareness and also improving the life style and nutrition status of the people is highly necessiated.
