Association between Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases and Obesity among Tehranian Women: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

Obesity is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. In developing countries, including Iran, the effects of this cardiovascular risk profile have been overlooked. While there is evidence that Asian countries will experience a similar epidemic of cardiovascular risk factors to that observed in Western populations, few studies have comprehensively assessed this association in Iran. The objective of this study was to assess association between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among Tehranian women (TLGS). For this cross sectional study, a representative sample of 5648 women, aged 18-69 years, was selected from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Serum cholesterol (chol), triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were measured and serum low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) was calculated. Both descriptive and statistical analysis methods were applied and the logistic regression model was used for adjustment of background variables. A high prevalence of obesity (29.1%) was found when BMI, TG, chol, LDL-C, SBP and DBP increased and the average level of HDL-C decreased slightly with advancing age. Compared with normal-weight women, obese women had greater risk of high TC (OR= 3.19, CI=2.63-3.87), high LDL-C (OR=1.87, CI=1.59-2.19), high Chol (OR=2.15, CI=1.85-2.49), low HDL-C (OR =1.41, CI=1.3-1.52), high systolic blood pressure (OR= 3.19, CI=2.63-3.87), and high diastolic blood pressure (OR=3.81,CI=3.04-4.78). The high prevelance of obesity and risk factors of non-communicable disease necessitates implementation of effective prevention and health promotion programs for women in Tehran.