[Prevalence of obesity and its associated factors in population aged 20 to 70 years in urban areas of Mazandaran]

ABSTRACT

Obesity is an undesirable outcome of changing of life style and behavior. In order to control obesity associated diseases, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated factors in population aged 20 to 70 years in urban areas of the province of Mazandaran, in North of Iran. A population based cross-sectional study with a sample of 3600 subjects using cluster sampling techniques, was conducted in urban areas of four cities Sari, Gaemshahr, Babol and Amol. In each city, 30 random clusters were selected based on cumulative family health number under coverage of different urban health centers using systematic sampling techniques. In each cluster, 15 men and 15 women aged 20 to 70 years were selected and assessed. The anthropometric measures [height, weight] were measured with standard methods and the social, demographic and some life style data were collected with interview using a designed questionnaire. In assessment of obesity, a standard recommended WHO method based on BMI distribution was used. The logistic regression model was used to estimate the age adjusted odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval and the P-value <0.05 was considered as significant level. The mean [ +/- SD] age of men and women were 38.5 +/- 14.2 and 37.5 +/- 13.0 years respectively. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight were 18.8% and 34.8% respectively [27.8%, 33.5% for men and 9.9% and 36.2% for women]. The pattern of obesity was significantly different with age in both genders. The results of logistic regression model showed that the odds ratio of obesity for age increased up to 60 years and then it tended to decrease slightly [P<0.0001]. The age adjusted odds ratio for obesity was greater roughly 3.6 times in women compared with men [P<0.0001]. The adjusted odds ratio decreased with increasing the level of education [P<0.0001] while the odds ratio was 0.19 for education at university level [P<0.0001]. The adjusted odds ratio was tended to decrease with occupational activities, physical activity level in leisure time and exercise level. The results of this study indicate an increased rate of obesity and overweight in urban population. With respect to these findings, low level of physical activity and education, parity, family history of obesity, marriage at earlier age, gender and aging were responsible for obesity. Therefore, community based multiple strategies are required to combat the increasing rate of obesity and its subsequent complications