Nagwa A. Meguid
Background and objective: Overweight and obesity are thought to be associated with increased risk of chronic disease
in the Middle East. The present study aimed to determine the association between dietary habits and the incidence of
overweight and obesity in urban adult population in the central part of Iran after a 10-year follow-up.
Methods: This cohort study was initiated with 2000 participation aged 20e74 years from Yazd city in Iran based on
Yazd Healthy Heart Project (YHHP). The participants without overweight and obesity at the baseline of the study were
followed up to 10 years. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, behavioral and metabolic risk factors of
cardiovascular diseases and dietary habits were assessed at baseline and phase II.
Results: After a 10-year follow up, 516 non-overweight and 1068 non-obese participants were included for the final
analysis. Once adjustments were made for all potential confounders including age, sex, smoking, economic status,
physical activity and education, it was identified that lack of weight control increased the risk of obesity (hazard ratio;
95% CI) in total population (1.9; 1.06, 3.4), as well as the risk of overweight (2.39; 1.07, 5.27) and obesity (2.65; 1.13,
6.25) in men. Moreover, consumption of mayonnaise increased the 10-year risk of overweight in women (6.09; 1.2,
30.99).
Conclusions: As revealed by the present study, unhealthy dietary habits can increase the incidence of overweight and
obesity in central part of Iran. Therefore, changing the lifestyle appears to be urgent in reducing the risk of overweight
and obesity.
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