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 5900 adult individuals aged 15-75 years enrolled to the study from 2009 to 2011 applying randomized cluster household survey in kerman,southeastern of iran. overweight was defined as body mass index (bmi) 25-29.9 kg/m2,obesity was considered as bmi ≥ 30 kg/m2,and central obesity was regarded as waist circumference (wc) > 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men. results: the overall age-sex standardized prevalence of overweight,obesity and central obesity was 29.6% (29.5% men,29.7% women),13.0% (9.3% men,16.9% women) and 14.4% (7.5% men,21.5% women),respectively. “overweight/obesity” increased by age,[adjusted odds ratio (aor): 7.9 95% confidence interval (ci): 5.8,10.7)] for 65-75 years old,11.7 (95% ci: 9,15.3) for 55-65 years old,10.1 (95% ci: 7.8,13) for 45-54 years old compared with the first age group),female gender [aor: 1.5 (1.3,1.8); p < 0.001],higher education (aor > 1.5 compared with illiterate individuals; p < 0.001),and low physical activity [aor: 1.4 (95% ci: 1.1,1.8); p = 0.006] and decreased by smoking [aor: 0.4 (95% ci: 0.3,0.6); p < 0.001] and opium using [aor: 0.5 (95% ci: 0.4,0.7); p < 0.001]. female gender [aor: 4.1 (95% ci: 3.3,5); p < 0.001],advanced (aor > 7 for age groups ≥ 35 years old; p < 0.001) positively,while smoking [aor: 0.6 (0.4,0.8); p = 0.004] negatively were the most significant predictors for abnormal wc. conclusion: our data reveal that overweight and obesity affected almost half of the adult population (43.0%),and central obesity was around 15.0%,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. © 2016,isfahan university of medical sciences(iums). all rights reserved.