title: Food insecurity, socio-economic factors and weight status in two Iranian ethnic groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the association of weight status with food insecurity (FI) and socio-economic status (SES) in Azeri and Kurd ethnic groups living in Urmia city, North-Western Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 723 participants (427 women and 296 men) aged 20-64 years old, from two ethnic groups (445 Azeri and 278 Kurd), were selected through a combination of cluster, random and systematic sampling methods. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics were assessed by a valid questionnaire, and household food security status was analyzed using an adapted household food insecurity access scale through face-to-face interviews at homes. General and central obesities were measured and evaluated using standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the findings, moderate-to-severe FI, as well as low SES, was more dominant in Kurds, compared to Azeris. After adjusting for confounders, being female (OR = 4.33, CI 95%: 2.35-7.97) and moderate-to-severe FI (OR = 2.00, CI 95%: 1.01-3.97) in Azeris and being female (OR = 5.39, CI 95%: 2.28-12.23) and higher total cost of household/capita (OR = 1.005, CI 95%: 1.002-1.009) in Kurds were related to higher odds of general obesity while low (OR = 0.41, CI 95%: 0.18-0.91) and moderate (OR = 0.13, CI 95%: 0.02-0.60) education levels were linked to lower chance of general obesity. Furthermore, the chance of central obesity was lower in Azeris with high educational levels (OR = 0.64, CI 95%: 0.21-0.94), females (OR = 0.72, CI 95%: 0.34-0.86), home owners (OR = 0.56, CI 95%: 0.31-0.91) and females Kurds (OR = 0.60, CI 95%: 0.37-0.97) with moderate-to-severe FI and higher total income per capita. In contrast, the chance of central obesity increased in Kurds with increased age (OR = 1.06, CI 95%: 1.02-1.10) and total cost of household per capita (OR = 1.004, CI 95%: 1.000-1.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show that the association between moderate-to-severe FI and risk of general/central obesity varies in Azeris, compared to Kurds. However, better SES decreased the chance of general/central obesity in both ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute , Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology , P.O. Box: 1981619573, Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute , Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology , P.O. Box: 1981619573, Tehran , Iran.|b Students' Research Committee , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: a Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute , Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology , P.O. Box: 1981619573, Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eini-Zinab
authors.affiliation: c Department of Demography, Faculty of Social Science , Tehran University , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghazi-Tabatabaie
authors.affiliation: d National Institute of Health Researches , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.affiliation: e Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine , Urmia University of Medical Sciences , Urmia , Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghavamzadeh
authors.affiliation: f Food and Beverages Safety Research Center , Urmia University of Medical , Urmia , Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nouri-Saeidlou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Iran; Obesity; ethnicity; food insecurity; socio-economic status