Abstract
A rise in the global prevalence of severe obesity (body mass index; BMI of ≥35 kg/m2 ) has been reported. In this study, we investigated the trends in the prevalence of severe obesity among Tehranian adults over the past two decades. A representative sample of 10,045 Tehranians aged ≥19 years were followed from 1999 to 2017. The trends in the prevalence of severe obesity were investigated over six cross-sectional phases with 3.6-year intervals using generalized estimating equations. In this cohort, the overall prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.6% (1.8% in males and 6.7% in females) in 1999 to 10.1% (4.7% in males and 14.3% in females) in 2017. The persisted rising in prevalence in the youngest age-group in both genders, with the most rapid increase among females aged 19-29 years, plateaued in the older ages and remained unchanged among males aged over 50 years. After age-sex standardized analysis by using Tehranian urban population data, the prevalence rates of severe obesity in Tehranian men and women were estimated to be 1.9% and 5.7% in 1996, and 4.5% and 10.9% in 2016, respectively. A high prevalence of severe obesity among Tehranian adults has been stabilized over the past two decades. Preventive interventions should be focused on the younger and middle-aged population, to mitigate the subsequent burden of severe obesity on Tehranian population and the healthcare system.
Highlights
Obesity, the state of excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, is an independent risk factor for a broad spectrum of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and specific types of cancers, and a leading but preventable cause of reduced quality of life and life expectancy.[1]
We provided age-sex standardized prevalence of severe obesity in phases I and II based on the 2005 census, phases III and IV based on the 2010 census, and V and VI based on the 2011 census of the Tehranian urban population 11
Age-sex standardized analysis based on the Tehranian urban adult population data demonstrated a remarkably high prevalence of severe obesity compared to average global estimates,[2] which has significantly and continuously increased over the past two decades
Summary
The state of excessive accumulation of adipose tissue, is an independent risk factor for a broad spectrum of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and specific types of cancers, and a leading but preventable cause of reduced quality of life and life expectancy.[1]. The worldwide prevalence of severe obesity has dramatically increased during the past several decades; with the same trends, it is forecasted to increase to over 6% among men and 9% among women worldwide by 2025. A rise in the global prevalence of severe obesity (body mass index; BMI of ≥35 kg/m2) has been reported. We investigated the trends in the prevalence of severe obesity among Tehranian adults over the past two decades. After age-sex standardized analysis by using Tehranian urban population data, the prevalence rates of severe obesity in Tehranian men and women were estimated to be 1.9% and 5.7% in 1996, and 4.5% and 10.9% in 2016, respectively. Conclusion: There was a significant and continuous increase in the prevalence of severe obesity in Tehranian adults over the past two decades. Arch Iran Med. 2020;23(6):378–385. doi: 10.34172/ aim.2020.30
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