Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: High prevalence of obesity and overweight among middle aged adults is a major health problem. It is related to high prevalence of many chronic degenerative diseases in this high risk group. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight among young and middle aged Iranian adults.

Methods: This study was based on anthropometric data collected in the national household food consumption and nutritional status survey (2001–2003). Seven thousand and one fifty eight households were selected randomly. Height (to the nearest 0.1 cm) and weight (to the nearest 100 g) of 15636 adults aged 20–65 years were measured according to the standard protocols. BMI (kg/m²) was calculated. Obesity and overweight were defined as BMI ≥30 and BMI 25–29.9 kg/m² respectively.

Results: Mean (±S.D.) and median of weight and height of young and middle aged adults were 67.1(±13.7), 66.0 kg and 162.6(±10), 162 cm and 68.5(±13.0), 68.0 kg and 160.5(±9.4), 160 cm respectively. Median BMI for two groups was 24.8 and 26.2 kg/m². Prevalence of obesity and overweight in young adults were (17%, 31.6%) and middle aged were (22.9%, 37.5%) respectively.

Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity and overweight especially in middle aged Iranian adults is similar to developed countries such as Canada and England. Obesity and overweight must be considered as a major risk factor for high prevalence of chronic diseases (coronary heart diseases, diabetes type 2) in Iranian middle aged adults.