maryam bahreinian

• Previous studies in Iran used the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-off points to determine visceral obesity and no studies used the suggested cut-off points. This study was performed to investigate the correlates of central obesity based on the optimal cut-off values in a representative population of women.• In a cross-sectional study of 926 women aged 40-60 years, usual dietary intakes were assessed by means of a semi quantative food frequency questionnaire. Demographic data and anthropometric indices were collected according to standard protocols. The suggested cut-off points for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR ≥ 0.84) were used to determine the correlates of visceral obesity. The components of dietary intakes were determined by factor analysis.• Mean WHR was 0.82 ± 0.06. There was a higher tendency for central obesity among less active women (odds ratio: 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.40-2.53). Depression (1.36; 1.02-1.93), smoking (1.21; 1.02-1.56), and unemployment (1.41; 1.13-1.72) were correlated with central adiposity. Marriage (1.31; 1.10-1.82), menopause (1.22; 1.02-1.61), low vitamin C intake (2.31; 1.25-4.25), and low calcium intake (1.30; 1.07-3.78) were also associated with central fat accumulation. We found an inverse relationship between dairy consumption and central obesity (r = -0.2, P < 0.05).• Since adverse fat accumulation is associated with increasing age, unemployment, marriage, parity and poor lifestyle factors like inactivity, smoking, depression, low intake of vitamin C and calcium, and high fat consumption, lifestyle modifications should be encouraged to achieve a healthier body shape.