The Effect of Community-Based Education for Lifestyle Intervention on the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background: it has been shown that life style modification may decrease the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, but this intervention has not been reported in community setting. objectives: effect of lifestyle modification on prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were assessed in an urban population. materials and methods: in 6870 participants of tehran lipid and glucose study aged 20-74 years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were measured before and after a 3.6 years interval. lifestyle intervention was employed at a community level including 2961 individuals and also 3909 subjects which were recruited as controls. logistic regression analysis was adjusted for age, sex and medications. results: after 3.6 years, the rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was less prominent in intervention than control group (p < 0.002 for increase of metabolic syndrome prevalence between groups), with an or of 0.84 (confidence interval 0.75-0.95). after intervention the prevalence of abdominal obesity, elevated fasting glucose levels, elevated triglyceride and low hdl cholesterol were more prominent in control group, as compared to intervention group. conclusions: community based lifestyle modifications in tehranian adults delayed rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and some of its components.