Physical activity, nutrition, and dyslipidemia in middle-aged women

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death throughout the world. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity, central obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, as well as dietary factors contributing to the development of dyslipidemia among middle-aged women. The research design of the present study was a population-based cross-sectional study; anthropometric measures and blood chemistry were obtained. Physical activity was measured using the original International Physical Activity Questionnaires Long Form while food frequency questionnaire [FFQ] was used in assessing individual's habitual intake. Overall, 809 women, 30-50 years of age from fourteen active urban Primary Healthcare Centers [PHC] in Babol City, northern Iran, were obtained from 1,905 households across operational areas of 14 PHC using systematic random sampling method. The prevalence rates of women classified as overweight/obese, with central obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia were 82.8%, 75.5%, 14.6% and 63.4%, respectively. Total physical activity did not correlate with cholesterol ratio. Soybean protein was inversely associated with cholesterol ratio [rho=-0.18, P? 0.001]. The adjusted OR for dyslipidemia in women with moderate protein intake was significantly higher than in women with high and low intake [OR=2.31; 95% CI= 1.61, 3.30]. No significant associations were found between dyslipidemia and carbohydrate, fat intake or physical activity. This study showed very high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among Iranian middle-aged women. A more detailed study is suggested to develop definitively recommendations for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease for the Iranian population

Importance of nutrition in achieving the Millenium Development Goals

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a global agenda for the international and national agencies and non-government organizations to work together towards promoting human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress. There are eight MDGs to be achieved by the year 2015: Goal 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; Goal 2 – Achieve universal primary education; Goal 3 – Promote gender equality and empower women; Goal 4 – Reduce child mortality; Goal 5 – Improve maternal health; Goal 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Goal 7 – Ensure environmental sustainability; and Goal 8 – Develop a global partnership for development. Each MDG is accompanied by one or more targets, which in turn are monitored by specific measureable indicators. Several of these indicators are closely linked to nutrition, thus underscoring the paramount importance that nutrition plays in influencing the success of the MDGs, especially those aimed at reducing hunger and poverty, improving education attainment, gender quality, child mortality, maternal health and combating diseases. Adequate nutrition including key micronutrients is crucial for optimum growth and development from infancy through childhood and adolescence. Improving maternal health is also critical as impaired health during pregnancy can bring about an inter-generational effect on human capital. Gender equality is said to bring about a ‘double dividend’ in benefiting both women and children. Access to safe water and living in a sanitary environment are necessary conditions for ensuring people do not run the risk of infections and diseases arising from an unclean environment. Incorporating nutrition considerations into government development policies and budgets is essential towards enhancing the achievement of the health-related MDGs by 2015.