Rising trends of obesity and abdominal obesity in 10 years of follow-up among Tehranian adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

Abstract

Objective: Some recent studies have shown stablity or declining trends in obesity while others still report increasing trends. The present study aimed to investigate the trends of obesity and abdominal obesity in Tehranian adults during a median follow-up of 10 years. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Community-based data collection from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Subjects: Participants from four phases of the TLGS from 1999 to 2011 (n 10 368), aged ≥20 years. Results: The crude prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity increased from 23·1 % and 47·9 % at baseline to 34·1 % and 71·1 % at the end of follow-up, respectively. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to analyse the correlated data and calculate the relative risks (RR). Risks of obesity and abdominal obesity increased over the whole study period for men (RR = 1·62; 95 % CI 1·49, 1·76 and RR = 1·46; 95 % CI 1·41, 1·52, respectively) and women (RR = 1·24; 95 % CI 1·19, 1·29 and RR = 1·22; 95 % CI 1·18, 1·27, respectively). These rising trends were observed in all subgroups regardless of age, marital status and educational level. Conclusions: Trends of obesity and abdominal obesity are increasing in Tehranian adults during a decade of follow-up in both genders and in all study subgroups. These results underscore the still growing obesity epidemic in the capital of Iran, calling for urgent action to educate people in lifestyle modifications and the need for effective preventive and educational strategies on obesity.

A Narrative Review of Obesity and Its Associated Complications in Iranian Women

“…In addition, it was shown that a sedentary lifestyle is prevalent in Iranian population, which is a well-documented risk factor for developing obesity (6). These results are consistent with the systematic review study and indicated that the trends of obesity is rapidly rising in both sexes and all social levels in population, which calls for urgent preventive public health strategies to educate and empower the community members, specially mothers and housewives for modifying obesity in families (1,5). The newest report from the TLGS revealed that after a median of 8-year follow up, the incidence of obesity (body mass index = BMI ≥ 30) was 31.3% (CI: 29.9% -32.7%) among the non-obese population, which was 38.1% (CI: 36.2% -40.1%) in women and 23.4% (CI: 21.6% -25.3%) in men.…”

“…Results from a previous investigation on 10 368 individuals in Tehran Lipid and Glucose study (TLGS) demonstrated that the raw prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity increased from 23.1% and 47.9% in 1999 to 34.1% and 71.1% in 2011, respectively (5). In addition, it was shown that a sedentary lifestyle is prevalent in Iranian population, which is a well-documented risk factor for developing obesity (6).…”

The relation between changes in thyroid function and anthropometric indices during long-term follow-up of euthyroid subjects: the Tehran Thyroid Study (TTS)

“…Examining the rising trends of obesity and central obesity in the TLGS cohort, a related different pattern of rising between the two entities has been previously reported by our colleagues (26). Along with low physical activity and unhealthy diet, ecological characteristics of Tehran metropolis, which impose further unhealthy changes on life style and eating behavior of its inhabitants, might provide some explanation.…”

Predictors of incident obesity phenotype in nonobese healthy adults

“…We have previously demonstrated that the increasing trend for obesity and abdominal obesity is more dramatic in Iranian men, aged 20-39 years [23]. Whether one could conclude that gender-specified metabolic effects might surmount the metabolic consequences of obesity remains a matter of debate.…”