Abstract
BackgroundConsidering the increasing trend of obesity reported in current data, this study was conducted to examine trends of obesity and abdominal obesity among Tehranian adults during a median follow-up of 6.6 years.MethodsHeight and weight of 4402 adults, aged 20 years and over, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS), were measured in 1999-2001(phase I) and again in 2002-2005(phase II) and 2006-2008 (phase III). Criteria used for obesity and abdominal obesity defined body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 and waist circumference ≥ 94/80 cm for men/women respectively. Subjects were divided into10-year groups and the prevalence of obesity was compared across sex and age groups.ResultsThe prevalence of obesity was 15.8, 18.6 and 21% in men and 31.5, 37.7 and 38.6% in women in phases I, II and III respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of abdominal obesity in men was 36.5, 57.2 and 63.3% and in women was 76.7, 83.8 and 83.6% in the three periods mentioned (p < 0.001). Men aged between 20-29 years had highest increase rates of obesity and abdominal obesity in phase III in comparison with phase I (with a respective rates of 2.2- and 3.3-fold). In both sexes, an increased trend was observed between phases I and II, whereas between phases II and III, this trend was observed in men, but not in women.ConclusionThis study demonstrates alarming rises in the prevalences of both obesity and abdominal obesity in both sexes especially in young men, calling for urgent action to educate people in lifestyle modifications.
Highlights
Considering the increasing trend of obesity reported in current data, this study was conducted to examine trends of obesity and abdominal obesity among Tehranian adults during a median follow-up of 6.6 years
Studies show the prevalence of abdominal obesity to be increasing along with general obesity [5]; for instance, in NHANES, during 10 years, an increase of 10% was observed in the prevalence of abdominal obesity among American adults [6]
Sex-specific prevalences of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity Overall prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in both sexes are showed in Table 2; while age adjusted prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in baseline were 55.4, 14.4 and 303% in men and 64.5, 22.9 and 68% in women, respectively
Summary
Considering the increasing trend of obesity reported in current data, this study was conducted to examine trends of obesity and abdominal obesity among Tehranian adults during a median follow-up of 6.6 years. General and abdominal, poses one of the greatest public health challenges for the 21st century with alarming trends in several parts of the world [1]. Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are the main contributors to overweight and obesity, which are among the leading risk factors for the major non-communicable diseases. BMC Public Health 2009, 9:426 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/426 overweight and obesity include hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, coronary heart diseases, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes, certain kinds of cancer [2]. There is a greater emphasis on abdominal obesity, as compared with general obesity, in relation to the risk of incidence of non-communicable weigh-related diseases [4]. Studies show the prevalence of abdominal obesity to be increasing along with general obesity [5]; for instance, in NHANES, during 10 years (from 1994 to 2004), an increase of 10% was observed in the prevalence of abdominal obesity among American adults [6]
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