Background There is a lack of studies examining the association between Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association of adherence to the MIND diet with MetS and general and abdominal obesity. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 836 Iranian adults, 18–75 years old. A 167-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intakes of participants. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and lipid profile of each participant were recorded. The guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) was used to define MetS. Results Mean age of study participants was 47.7 ± 10.7 years. The prevalence of MetS was 36.1% and mean body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) was 27.7 ± 4.69 kg/m2 and 92.0 ± 12.4 cm respectively. Those who were in the third tertile of the MIND diet score compared to the first tertile had 12% lower odds of having the MetS (ORs: 0.88; 95% CI 0.62–1.24) but the association was not significant (P = 0.77). There was a significant inverse association between the MIND diet score and odds of reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (ORs: 0.59; 95% CI 0.41–0.85; P = 0.008) and general obesity (ORs: 1.190.80–1.78; 95% CI 0.80–1.78; P = 0.02) in crude model and after controlling for confounders. Conclusions We found that the MIND diet score is inversely associated with odds of reduced HDL and general obesity in Iranian adults.

Background: Data about the relation between dietary insulin load (DIL) and dietary insulin index (DII) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the association of the insulinemic potential of the diet with MetS and obesity amongst Iranian adults. Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 850 adults aged 20-59 years. Dietary data were collected using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. DIL was calculated using a standard formula and DII was obtained by dividing DIL by the total energy intake of each participant. The guidelines of the International Diabetes Federation were used to define MetS. General obesity was considered as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 , and abdominal obesity as waist circumference ≥ 94 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women.Results: Mean DIL and DII values were 101 684 ± 54 802 and 49.4 ± 33.4, respectively. The mean age of participants was 44.9 ± 10.7 years and 36.8%, 28.5% and 48.8% of participants were suffering from MetS, general and abdominal obesity, respectively. In contrast with DIL (P = .73), participants in the last quartile of DII (P = .62) had lower odds of MetS than the first quartile. There were non-significant inverse associations between DIL (P = .91, P = .85) and DII (P = .59, P = .53) with odds of general and abdominal obesity before and after the adjustment of confounders, respectively. Conclusions:We did not observe any significant association of DIL and DII with the risk of MetS and obesity amongst the Iranian population. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

Physical fitness can be defined as an comprehensive indicator of most body functions 1 and applies to a good health state, that is, the capacity to carry out active everyday tasks, as well as capabilities correlated with a reduced probability of cardiovascular illness and early death. 2 The primary components of physical fitness include cardiorespiratory strength, musculoskeletal activity and motor fitness and recognised as an important factor in health-related outcomes in childhood and adulthood. 3,4 Low levels of fitness during childhood and adolescence are associated with the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, 5 loss of quality of life and mental health. Physical fitness includes cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength. CRF is a good predictor of health outcomes, such as mortality in obese people, high blood pressure or diabetics. 6 Muscle strength, other than other physical fitness, is also used as an important indicator of mortality in diseases that are associated with weakness and sarcopenia. 7,8 Studies have shown that improvement in CRF with muscle strength together has more beneficial effects than when each one is alone. 9 Of the factors that may influence CRF

No abstract

Introduction: To determine whether dietary carbohydrates quality index (CQI), glycemic index, and glycemic load is associated with general and abdominal obesity. Methods: 850 participants, 20 to 59 years old, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study from five Tehran districts through health houses. The 168 items in the semi--quantitative food frequency questionnaire were used to assess dietary intake. The CQI was calculated by using the following four components: glycemic index, total fiber, solid carbohydrate to total carbohydrate ratio, and whole grains: total grains ratio. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, the chance of obesity in men (OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.15to 0.95; P=0.04) measured by waist circumference (WC) was significantly lower in the fourth quintile of CQI in comparison with the first quintile. In addition, OR for obesity in men (OR=2.53, 95% CI0.52 to 1.37; P=0.04) was significantly 2.5 times higher among those in the fourth quintile of glycemic index compared with those in the lowest quintile. There was no significant association between dietary carbohydrates with general obesity in men and women. Conclusion: In summary, dietary CQI is significantly inversely related to central obesity in men,according to this study. Additionally, adherence to a diet with a higher glycemic index in men is positively associated with central obesity.