The positive association between number of children and obesity in Iranian women and men: results from the National Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: To date, few studies have assessed the association between the number of children and obesity in couples. We aimed to investigate this association in men and women aged 20-75 years. METHODS: Data from the National Health Survey were considered in this investigation. It included 2728 women and men (1364 couples) aged 20-75 years. Height and weight were actually measured rather than self-reported. A generalized estimating equation model was used to estimate the odds of obesity (body mass index (BMI > or = 30)) as a function of the number of children adjusted for age, sex, education, economic index, workforce, smoking and place of residence. RESULTS: We infer that each additional child has at least 5% and at most 34% increase in the odds of obesity in men and at least 4% and at most 29% increase in the odds of obesity in women. Our test of interaction by sex showed that the association between the number of children and obesity was not different among men and women. Among women, factors that increased obesity included age, low education, having more children, being inactive workforce and being nonsmoker. Among men, these factors included high economic index, low education, having more children, and being nonsmoker. CONCLUSION: Our results show an association between the number of children and obesity among men. We would recommend interventions to reduce the number of children to prevent obesity in men.

Sociodemographic and smoking associated with obesity in adult women in Iran: results from the National Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: There is no study that had a sample size sufficient to study the association between sociodemographic and smoking with obesity in Iran. The goal was to investigate these associations in the Iranian women. METHODS: Multivariate statistical techniques included 14 176 women between 20 and 69 years of age. Height and weight were measured rather than self-reported. RESULTS: In Iranian adult women, obesity OR(S) for the moderate and high education were 0.78 and 0.41, respectively, compared with basic level. Using low economy index as the reference, Obesity OR(S) for the urban women were 1.29, 1.25 and 1.28 for the lower-middle, upper-middle and high groups, respectively. Obesity OR(S) for the rural women were 1.71, 1.71 and 2.02 for the lower-middle, upper-middle and high groups, respectively. Obesity OR was 0.48 for active workforce compared with inactive group. Obesity OR was 0.70 for smokers women compared with nonsmokers. Using non-married as the reference group, Obesity OR(S) were 1.23 and 2.34 for married urban and rural women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results on the associations between age, smoking, education level, workforce and obesity are consistent with most studies, but between economic level and obesity are consistent with some study in developing countries.