[Prevalence of obesity and some associated factors among 8-12 year old boy students in Shiraz]

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and some associated factors among boy students, aged 8 to 12 years in Shiraz. This cross-sectional study was performed on 478 [male] students, 8-12 years old. The subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI for age and sex, respectively, as proposed by Center for Disease Control [CDC]. Physical fitness level and family conditions were collected by a standard Baecke questionnaire. The prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight in 8-12 year old students were 7.1%, 11.9% and 14.8% respectively. Results showed that there were inverse relationships between BMI and age and the parent's education [P<0.05]. On the other hand, although BMI had positive associations with the time spent watching TV, fast food consumption, time spent on exercise and walking during a week, they were not achieve statistically significant. The lower the level of parent's education, the more the increase in student's BMI, findings which emphasize the need for awareness about childhood obesity complications among parents

[Association between obesity and overweight with lifestyle status and physical fitness level in Shiraz adults]

Today the drastically rising trend of obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. Several factors such as unhealthy lifestyle and low physical fitness are related to obesity. The aim of this study thus was to investigate the association between obesity and overweight with lifestyle status and physical fitness levels in Shirazi adults. For this cross-sectional study, 727 males [n=354; mean +/- SD: 41.7 +/- 10.1 years of age] and females [n=373; mean +/- SD: 36.02 +/- 7.9 years of age] were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Subject's lifestyle status was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire based on Breslow's lifestyle index and physical fitness levels were determined by a physical fitness index questionnaire. Prevalences of obesity and overweight in males were 13.5% and 39.5% respectively and in females were 9.3% and 36.1% respectively. Results showed an inverse relationship between lifestyle status and physical fitness levels with overweight and obesity in both males and females [P<0.05]. Despite females having a higher lifestyle index than males, both had unhealthy lifestyles. Unhealthy and sedentary lifestyles are effective factors in overweight and obesity in Shirazi adults, who lack healthy lifestyles.

Effect of 12 weeks life-style activity modification on serum oxidized LDL-C in obese men

Exercise significantly prevents the progression of atherosclerosis and oxidized LDL-C [ox-LDL-C], facilitates monocyte-related atherogenesis. The effects of Lifestyle Activity Modification [LAM] training based on guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control [CDC] and the American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM] on serum oxidized LDL-C [ox-LDL-C] in obese people are not well known. We investigated the effect of LAM on serum ox-LDL-C in obese middle aged men. Sixteen healthy obese middle aged men [aged 42.06 +/- 6.01 years, mean +/- SD] were randomly assigned to the LAM [n=8] and the control [n=8] groups. Subjects in the LAM group walked 2 miles daily in 30 minutes 4 days weekly for 12 weeks on treadmills, according to the CDC and ACSM guidelines. Results showed that body weight, BMI, body fat mass, body fat percent, waist to hip ratio [WHR] and LDL-C decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the LAM group compared to the controls [P<0.05], and their maximum oxygen uptake was increased significantly compared to the controls after 12 weeks [P<0.05]. On the other hand, after 12 weeks of LAM training, no significant differences were observed in serum ox-LDL-C, total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG] and HDL-C between the groups. Although twelve weeks of LAM improved body composition and cardio-respiratory fitness and decreased LDL-C levels in obese middle aged men, serum ox-LDL-C were not affected by this protocol in this group

[Effects of 12 weeks walking on plasma adiponectin concentration in postmenopausal women with breast Cancer]

Adiponectin is involved in breast cancer development, and data available suggest that exercise increases plasma adiponectin, but little is known about the effect of exercise on plasma adiponectin in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. The purpose of this study therefore was to examine the effects of 12 weeks of walking on plasma adiponectin in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Nineteen postmenopausal women with breast cancer [aged 55 +/- 2.7 years; mean +/- SD] who had undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with hormone therapy by letrozol, were divided into the training [n=11] and control [n=8] groups. Subjects in the experimental group walked 25 to 45 minutes with intensity of 45 to 65% of target heart rate, 4 days for 12 weeks. The results showed that maximum oxygen uptake increased and fasting insulin decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the training group, as compared to the control group [P<0.05]. However, after 12 weeks walking no significant differences were observed in the plasma adiponectin, fasting glucose and insulin resistance between the two groups. Although 12 weeks walking improves aerobic capacity, it does not affect plasma adiponectin concentration in postmenopausal women with breast cancer

[Prevalence of overweight, obesity and physical fitness in Shiraz adolescents]

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and physical fitness in Shiraz adolescents. This cross-sectional study was performed on 808 [boys] students, 14-16 years old. The subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined on the 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI for age and sex, respectively, as proposed by CDC. Physical fitness of the subjects were measured by sit-up, modified pull-up, sit-and-reach, 540 m running, 45 m running and 4 x 9 m shuttle run test. The prevalences of overweight in 14, 15 and 16 year old students were 13.4%, 9.2% and 7.8% respectively and the prevalences of obesity were 7.8%, 5.9% and 4.4% respectively. The results showed that the physical fitness had a tendency to decrease as body fat percent and BMI increased. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Shiraz adolescents are higher than in some other areas of the Iran and the world and obesity increases among adolescents during the early years. There were inverse relationships between physical fitness levels with body fat percent and BMI, findings that emphasize exercise for overweight and obese adolescents

Association between lifestyle status and dyslipidemia in Ham adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lifestyle status on dyslipidemia which may be responsible for the metabolic syndrome. One hundred forty one males [n=47; mean +/- SD: 43.7 +/- 7.8 years of age] and females [n=94; mean +/- SD: 43.7 +/- 7.8 years of age] participated in this study. Each subject's lifestyle status was assessed by self-administered questionnaires, based on Breslow's lifestyle index and a composite dietary behavior score, obtained from self-reported responses to a 24-item food-frequency questionnaire, was used to categorize eating habits as more/less healthy. The results demonstrated a negative relationship between Breslow's lifestyle index and physical fitness level and dyslipidemia [P<0.05]. On the other hand, the results showed that less healthy diets were associated with total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that food consumption patterns were independently associated with blood lipid profiles in females, while physical fitness level was independently associated with blood lipid profiles in males. In conclusion, unhealthy lifestyles may cause dyslipidemia, findings which present reasonable explanations for the relationships between lifestyles and lifestyles-related diseases

Effect of 12 weeks life-style activity modification [LAM] on adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin in obese men

Central obesity down regulates adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin concentration. The effects of lifestyle activity modification [LAM] training according to Centers for Disease Control [CDC] and American College of Sports Medicine ACSM guidelines on adiponectin gene expression and its secretion in obese people is not well known. The purpose of this study hence was to examine the effects of LAM on adiponectin gene expression and plasma adiponectin in obese men. Sixteen healthy middle aged men [42.06 +/- 6.01 years; mean +/- SD] participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to the LAM [n=8] and control group [n=8]. Subjects in the LAM group walked 2 miles for 30 minutes for 4 days for 12 weeks on treadmill according to the CDC and ACSM guidelines. After 12 weeks LAM training, subjects were asked to avoid any high intensity physical activity for a week. The results showed that weight, BMI, body fat mass, body fat percent, central [visceral and subcutaneous] and peripheral subcutaneous fat volume, waist and hip circumstance and waist to hip ratio [WHR] were decreased significantly after 12 weeks in the LAM group, compared to the controls [P<0.05]. After one week detraining, body composition in the training group was maintained and did not change significantly. Also, maximum oxygen uptake, adiponectin gene expression on abdominal and hip subcutaneous adipose tissue were increased significantly in the LAM group compared to controls after 12 weeks [P<0.05]. On the other hand, after 12 weeks LAM training no significant differences were observed in plasma adiponectin and serum high sensitive C reactive protein [hs-CRP], levels between groups, while after one week detraining plasma adiponectin and serum hs-CRP levels were significantly increased and decreased respectively [P<0.05]. Although, twelve weeks LAM training improved body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiponectine gene expression in obese men, but the intensity and time of these exercises are not enough to increase plasma adiponectin and hs-CRP reduction