Eskandar Rahimi, Majid Chahardah Cheric.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity and their Relation to Hypertension in Adult Male Population of Fars Province of Iran.
Pak J Med Res Jan ;51(3):97-100.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing in Iran since the last decade. Both are associated with high mortality and morbidity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, degenerative joint disease, gallbladder disease, depression and cancer. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their relation to hypertension in adult population of Fars Province. Subjects and Methods: A total of 401 adult males were included in the study, out of which 372 underwent all required tests. Body weight and height were measured by a scale and a non-stretchable tape respectively. Body mass index was calculated according to World Health Organization (2002) definition. Waist circumference and waist hip ratio were measured in a standing position. Body fat % was measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. The partial correlation coefficient was used to quantify the association between all anthropometric indicators with hypertension. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of all anthropometric indicators on the variance of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results: The mean body mass index was 26.12kg/m2, waist hip ratio was 0.93.7, waist circumference was 90.10cm and fat percentage was 25.2%. The mean systolic blood pressure was 130.78mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was 79.56mmHg. Eighty seven subjects (23.4%) had systolic blood pressure higher than cut-off value and 39 subjects (10.5%) had diastolic blood pressure higher than cut-off value. Descriptive analysis showed that 30.1% population was overweight and 13.7% were obese. Partial correlation for all the anthropometric indicators (waist- hip ratio, body mass index and % body fat) showed a positive correlation with both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Waist circumference only correlated with systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Adult male population of Fars province had a high prevalence of hypertension, overweight and obesity which can be handled through healthy diet and physical exercises.

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