Obesity Indices in relation to Lipid Abnormalities among Medical University Students in Zahedan, South-East of Iran

Background:

There is no statement on the ability of obesity indices in prediction of lipid abnormalities among young adults. The present study was conducted to determine the ability of obesity indices as predictors of lipid abnormalities among a group of young adults.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 353 medical university students aged 18–25 years (188 males and 165 females) participated in this cross-sectional study in 2014. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were measured to calculate obesity indices including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were measured by commercially available kits and were applied to calculate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherogenic parameters including LDL-C/ HDL-C ratio, TC/HDL-C ratio, non-HDL-C, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP).

Results:

Subjects with BMI ≥25 kg/m² had a greater value of all lipid profiles and atherogenic parameters (P < 0.05) except for HDL-C (P > 0.05) compared to subjects with BMI <25 kg/m². In logistic regression model, BMI ≥25 kg/m² was significantly associated with the highest odds for elevated TC (odds ratio [OR] = 7.67, P = 0.003), LDL-C (OR = 3.24, P = 0.01), TC:HDL-C (OR = 4.98, P = 0.01), and non-HDL-C(OR = 4.32, P = 0.001) in males, as well as high values of TG (OR = 8.80, P = 0.002), LDL-C:HDL-C (OR = 3.64, P = 0.01), and AIP (OR = 9.65, P < 0.001) in females. In terms of central obesity indices, males with WC ≥102 cm and females with WC ≥88 cm had the highest odds of increased LDL-C:HDL-C (OR = 6.71, P = 0.01) and TC:HDL-C (OR = 3.25, P = 0.050), respectively. In addition, females with WHtR ≥0.50 had the highest odds of high TC (OR = 3.56, P = 0.02) and non-HDL-C (OR = 2.70, P = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Overall, the findings of the present study showed that BMI was a stronger index for prediction of classical lipid parameters and atherogenic parameters than central obesity indices in medical students.

Dietary habits and obesity indices in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease: a comparative cross-sectional study

Background

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is suggested to be associated with some socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. Although the roles of some factors such as obesity are well documented, evidence on the impact of other factors such as dietary habits are still inconclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between socio-demographic and lifestyle factors with GERD in participants referred to a teaching hospital in Zahedan, South-East of Iran.

Methods

This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted during 2014–2015. All patients completed a structured questionnaire regarding information on socio-demographic status, lifestyle factors and dietary habits. Anthropometric indices including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were used to determine general and central obesity, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22. Value of p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Five hundred and five participants, including 285 GERD and 220 Non-GERD participants participated in the study. In univariate analysis, being married (OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.04, 2.36), general obesity (OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.11, 2.81), central obesity (OR = 2.09, 95%CI = 1.46,3.01) and consumption of citrus fruits between meals (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.04, 2.73) were associated with higher odds of GERD, while higher educational level (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.36,0.77) and regular physical activity ≥2 h/week (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.30, 0.94) were associated with lower odds of GERD. In the adjusted model, central obesity (OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.18, 3.01) and consumption of citrus fruits between meals (OR = 2.22, 95%CI = 1.30, 3.81) were positively associated with odds of GERD, while higher educational level (OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.33, 0.91) was associated with decreased odds of GERD.

Conclusion

According to the results of the current study, central obesity as determined by WC and citrus fruit intake were independent factors associated with GERD. Therefore, lifestyle modification might have a positive effect in the treatment of GERD in an urban population of Iran.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12876-017-0699-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Food pattern, lifestyle and diabetes mellitus

Background:

Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly worldwide. Recent data is reprehensive of increasing diabetes prevalence from 285 millions in 2010 (6.4%) to 439 millions in 2030 in adults aged 20 to 79 in different countries. Lifestyle and particularly dietary habits play an important role in the development of diabetes. Additionally, specific individual food groups and diet components such as monounsaturated fatty acids, fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, dietary fiber, fish, magnesium and nuts may protect against the development of diabetes, possibly through the amelioration of insulin sensitivity and its anti-inflammatory actions, while consumption of red and processed meats and saturated fat may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Objectives:

In this section, we studied dietary and other factors related to the effect of lifestyle in type 2 diabetes. These factors may affect the incidence of type 2 diabetes which could be corrected by lifestyle modifications.

Results:

Unfortunately, dietary habits in the developed and developing countries are changing towards an unhealthier direction. Consequently, emphasis should be given on encouraging at population and individual levels for adopting a healthier lifestyle, including dietary habits, to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. Here we reviewed epidemiologic and clinical trial evidence regarding nutrients, foods and dietary patterns to diabetes risk and involved possible mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Type 2 diabetes is increasingly growing in young population of developing countries, which causes a large burden on individuals and the society.

Cardiovascular disease in Middle Eastern women

Morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are rising among Middle Eastern women. Despite this threat, awareness and understanding of CVD are low and surveillance data are nonexistent for many populations in this region. In this review, the data available on CVD in Middle Eastern women will be generalized. Population-based studies in the Middle East have been sporadic and most have been cross-sectional with small samples. Many Middle Eastern countries lack reliable surveillance data regarding the prevalence and incidence of CVD and its risk factors in women. This information is crucial for monitoring the scope of the problem and for guiding intervention strategies. Because of the ethnic heterogeneity of this region and the rapidly changing lifestyles, well-designed, longitudinal, large-scale population-based studies that focus on CVD and its risk factors are needed in multiple areas of the Middle East.