Correlation between educational status and cardiovascular risk factors in an overweight and obese Turkish female population.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing in Turkey as well as all over the world. Educational inequalities play an important role in the development of obesity. In this study, our aim is to evaluate how educational status affects obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in the overweight and obese Turkish female population.


METHODS
In this study, 3080 overweight (n=633) and obese (n=2447) Turkish women who applied to Istanbul Faculty of Medicine Obesity Outpatient Clinic were evaluated retrospectively. Educational status was classified according to the subjects' latest term of education. Subjects were evaluated in terms of anthropometric and biochemical parameters. The association of educational level with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Educational levels after adjusted continuous variables (age and body mass index) showed significant correlation with waist circumference, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose. Low educated class (LEC) had a 1.93 (95% CI--1.56-2.39, p=0.001) fold increased risk than high educated subjects for cardiovascular risk factors. Metabolic syndrome prevalence was more prevalent and significant risk increase was observed in LEC (OR=2.02, 95% CI--.53-2.67, p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Low educational status is a contributing factor for development of obesity and increased risk for obesity related disorders in the Turkish overweight and obese female population. Population based information and educational policies might prevent obesity related disorders and decrease cardiovascular mortality.
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. stanyolac@gmail.com
Sinan
S
Tanyolaç
Ayşe
A
Sertkaya Cikim
Adil
A
Doğan Azezli
Yusuf
Y
Orhan
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides