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Volume 24 |
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Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS |
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ISSN 1681-715X |
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Volume 24 |
October - December 2008 (Part-I) |
Number 5 |
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Prevalence of obesity and dietary practices in
Jondi-Shapour University female
personnel, Ahvaz, IranReza Amani1, Fereshteh Boustani2
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the obesity prevalence and dietary practices in all female personnel working in administrative positions at Ahvaz Jondi-Shapour University, Iran.
Methodology: In this cross-sectional study, all 101 University female staff working in administrative and executive posts in the range of 20-45y were interviewed and semi-quantiative food frequency questionnaires, some features of lifestyle patterns and anthropometric indices were evaluated.
Results: Overweight and obesity were detected in 34.6 and 40.6 percent of women, respectively, and central obesity was prevalent in 27% of them. Women with bachelor degree had less percent body fat (%BF) and body mass index (BMI) than those with lower educational degrees (31.8±5.6 vs. 35.5±5.8 percent; p<0.002 and 25.5±3.9 vs. 28.5±4.5kg/m²;p<0.003). About 30% of the subjects used to eat biscuits and dates as snacks at the working time. Moreover, except breads, the score of consuming other food groups based on food guide pyramid was low. The higher vegetable oil was associated with the more %BF (p<0.05). On the other hand, 83% of individuals had engaged in nor daily neither weekly habitual physical activity programs. Repeated weight loss programs were reported with more %BF gain (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Obesity and overweight rates are highly prevalent in University female staff and the higher educational level is associated with less percent body fat (%BF). High-calorie snacks and sedentary lifestyle are among the main reasons of getting more fats in women working in administrative jobs and they need to control their snacks and to include more physical activity programs in their daily lifestyle schedules.
KEY WORDS: Obesity, Lifestyle, Ahvaz University, Female staff.
Pak J Med Sci October - December 2008 (Part-I) Vol. 24 No. 5 748-752
How to cite this article:
Amani R, Boustani F. Prevalence of obesity and dietary practices in Jondi-Shapour University female personnel, Ahvaz, Iran. Pak J Med Sci 2008;24(5):748-52.
1. Reza Amani, Ph.D
2. Fereshteh Boustani, BSc.
1-2: Dept. of Nutrition,
Faculty of Paramedicine,
Jondi-Shapour University of Medical Sciences,
Ahvaz – Iran.
Correspondence
Reza Amani,
Email: rezaamani@hotmail.com
* Received for Publication: February 20, 2008
* Accepted: July 23rd 2008
INTRODUCTION
According to WHO, the global prevalence of overweight and obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The recent data from WHO covering 84 countries around the world in 1999-2000, showed that the global prevalence of obesity (BMI>30kg/m2) was 8.7%. The global prevalence translates to more than 300 millions, with the developing countries contributing a big 39% share because of their large population size.
1Present findings show a close association of overweigh and obesity with an elevated risk for coronary heart disease.
2,3 The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in obese adults is 3-7 times than in normal- weight adults, and those with a BMI >35 are 20 times as likely to develop diabetes as are those with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.4,5 It has been emphasized that women’s lifestyle has a key role in this association.6,7 Obesity is also an independent risk factor for dyslepidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.8-11On the other hand, many countries in the Asian region, as well as Iran, have witnessed sustained economic growth, increasing high- energy foods availability, and changing the pattern and composition of diets. Moreover, there are increasing trends toward changes in dietary behavior, such as eating out, consumption of fried foods and additional use of snacks. Overeating is a concern among some people, especially women
12,13 and it has been indicated that women respond to risk factors in a different way than men.14 In Iran, there has been an increasing trend in prevalence of obesity and a nutritional transition to a more sedentary new lifestyle pattern.15,16 There is a need to have an updated database for health promotion strategies. On the other hand, there are little findings regarding current lifestyle patterns and obesity prevalence in various social groups and positions, so, this research was carried out to illustrate the obesity prevalence and some nutritional related lifestyles in women working in administrative posts at Ahwaz University.METHODOLOGY
This cross- sectional study was performed on all one hundred one healthy women of 20-45 years who were working in administrative and managerial positions at Jondi-shapour University of Medical Sciences Central Building, Ahvaz, southwest of Iran located by the Persian Gulf. (Total number of female personnel was 105, but 4 women were excluded because of their illness). Data collection was carried out between March and June, 2005. Their anthropometric indices including body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences (WC, HC), percent body fat (%BF), exercise pattern, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), drug and medical histories were collected by the trained senior students via interview. Waist circumference was obtained by measuring the distance around the smallest area below the rib cage and above the ambilicus with the use of a nonstrechable tape measure.
17 Educational levels were categorized into four levels: high-school diploma, two years higher education (technician), bachelor (four years), and master (six years) University degrees.FFQs consisted of 27 food items mainly consumed based on daily or weekly patterns. Food items consumed on monthly basis or on occasion were regarded as seldom. These questionnaires were then interpreted using Food Guide Pyramid. Individual’s %BF and blood pressure were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method by Omron BF-302, Japan and Omron digital set, Japan, after five minutes resting, respectively. Subjects’ habitual physical activity levels were asked on both daily and/or weekly basis. Weights and heights were measured using Seca platform scale, Germany, and a non-stretchable wall meter, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests using SPSS soft ware, version # 11.5. Interpretation of BMI and %BF values was done based on WHO
18 and modified Gallagher et al. method,19 respectively.
RESULTS
Women’s mean age was 33.5 ± 7.3 years (in the range of 20-45 years) and 62% of them were married. Table-I shows the basic criteria of the subjects. Table-II represents the thin, normal, over weight and obese subjects based on both BMI and BIA methods.
Both methods indicated that more than 60% of the women were overweight or obese and 27% had WC above 88 cm and 5% had hypertension. Table-III compares the various individual’s anthropometric criteria and blood pressure levels based on their educational levels. Women with high school diploma had the highest amounts of body weight (P= 0.01), WC (p=0.001), BMI (p=0.003) and %BF (p=0.002) compared with those of higher educational levels. FFQs showed that except breads and starchy foods, daily consumption of all main food groups was low in majority of women.
On the other hand, about 30% of women used to eat biscuits and dates as habitual daily snacks (Table-IV). However, there was no significant association between women’s anthropometric indices and their snack taking pattern. Twenty three percent of the subjects ate fish just on monthly basis. More daily vegetable oil intake was associated with higher %BF (P< 0.05). Women who used to take frequent weight loss diets had higher %BF in comparison with whom did not take any regimen (36.5 ± 6 vs 32.7 ± 5.9; p<0.04)
There were no significant differences between consumption of food groups and different educational subclasses. Furthermore, no statistically significant association was seen between ingestion of oral contraceptive pills and subject’s anthropometric indices. Eighty three percent of the subjects were not undertaking daily or weekly physical activity on regular basis.
DISCUSSION
The dramatic changes in the lifestyle of Asian communities, as well as Iran, and the resultant changes in the food and nutrition issues facing these countries, have been documented by some investigators.
12,15,16 Overeating and choosing high calorie foods, decreased physical activity and new sedentary lifestyle are an increasing concern.12 Hence, there is an urgent need to identify the subgroups that are more susceptible to obesity, to address the main reasons, and to find the best solutions.In present study, there was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in women who used to work in administrative sections of the University based on two different methods and abdominal obesity was a considerable concern in 27% of them. Central obesity is an important indicator of having higher risk for chronic diseases known as metabolic syndrome in the later life.
20 Moreover, it was observed that women with high school diploma have the highest amounts of body weight, waist circumference, body mass index and percent body fat compared with those holding higher educational levels (Table-III). The inverse relationship between women’s educational degree and obesity has been also indicated by others.21Data obtained from semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires revealed that (except bread, which is the main staple food in Iranian dietary pattern) the main food groups were inadequately consumed in daily meals. Daily consumption of the red meat was only seen in 8% of subjects. On the other hand, daily intake of hydrogenated fats, biscuits, and dates were reported by almost 30% of the women, two latter foods were being consumed as habitual snacks during work times. Furthermore, habitual intake of all types carbonated drinks and fatty sausages was observed in about one third of individuals (Table-IV). All of these dietary practices seem to be relevant to high energy intake among these staff. However, women reported with more daily vegetable oils intake had higher %BF (P< 0.05). This trend is also indicated by other authors in similar communities.
12 This may arise in part, because of great emphasis on benefits of vegetable oils intake highlighted in mass media during recent years. It must be mentioned that women’s beliefs about foods and their weight may be more important than their knowledge in altering food related health behavior.22 Hence, by motivating women and correcting their beliefs about good nutritional practices via continuing proper nutrition education on calorie contents of foods consumed and healthy nutritional lifestyle patterns they can control their energy intake and choose healthy low calorie snacks.Another point which should be mentioned here is that the cut-off points usually used for interpretation of anthropometric data are subject to change according to the populations under study. It has been shown that both BMI and %BF classifications should be modified for Asians
23 and Iranians.24 It is essential to conduct studies to define suitable criteria for determining the obesity prevalence in different subclasses.Finally, another important finding of this study was the unwillingness of 83% of women to engage in regular physical activity programs which can be a relevant factor of getting more fats in such sedentary subjects. However, this study did not determine the main reasons of such abstaining and it deserves a separate work to find out the main reasons of the personnel’s low physical activity levels.
In conclusion, it was shown that prevalence of obesity and low physical activity are considerably high in administrative female personnel in Ahwaz Jondi-Shapour University. It is suggested that by correcting current dietary practices concomitant with regular exercise programs women can have healthier lifestyle patters for better working performance.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors wish to thank Mrs. L. Rasouli, and Miss S. Mohammadi-Nejad for their valuable help in data gathering and all the subjects who co-operated in this study.
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2. Aronne L. Treating obesity: A new target for prevention of coronary heart disease. Progr Cardiovasc Nurs 2001;16:98-106.
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20. National Institute of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and North American Association for the study of obesity the practical guide. Identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Bethesda, MD, NIH; 2000.
21. US Department of Heath and Human Service. The Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity. Rockville, Md; 2001.
22. Nowak M, Buttner P. Relationship between adolescents’ food related beliefs and food intake behaviors. Nutr Res 2003;23:45-55.
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24. Amani R. Comparison between bioelectrical impedance analysis and body mass index methods in determination of obesity prevalence in Ahvazi women. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007;61(4):478-82.
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