Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate possible direct and indirect association of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors with central obesity and overweight status in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population.

Methods: After excluding under- and over-reporters, a sample of 2747 TLGS participants (58.3% female) aged≥20 years were recruited in the study. Overweight and central obesity were defined as having BMI ≥25 kg/m² and waist circumference ≥91 cm (Iranian cut-off point) respectively. Socio-demographic factors, lifestyle factors including leisure time physical activity, dietary patterns and daily energy intake were included in the hypothesised model for the testing direct and indirect effects on overweight and central obesity, using structural equation modelling (SEM), conducted by AMOS V20.

Results: Overweight and central obesity were present in 61.6 and 48.1% of respondents, respectively. Fit indices had acceptable fit for the hypothesized model (χ²/df=3.13, GFI=0.98, CFI=0.97, RMSEA=0.028). Among lifestyle factors, daily energy intake had a direct effect on overweight and central obesity in both men (β=0.44 and 0.47 respectively; P<0.01) and women (β=0.33 and 0.33 respectively; P<0.01); while, poor dietary pattern had a direct effect on overweight and central obesity, only in men (β=0.10 and 0.13; P<0.01). Of socio-demographic factors, in women, higher age, being married and lower educational level had direct effects on overweight (β=0.28, 0.15 and −0.09 respectively) and central obesity (β=0.30, 0.05 and −0.12 respectively, P<0.05); in men however, only higher age and being married had direct effects on overweight (β=0.14 and 0.18 respectively) and central obesity (β=0.23 and 0.14 respectively, P< 0.01). Furthermore, lower age and marital status in both sexes and lower education in women had indirect effects on overweight and abdominal obesity via lifestyle factors.

Conclusion: Interventions aiming at some socio-demographic and lifestyle factors may help health policy makers to reduce the burden of obesity among this adult population.