Obesity and Related Factors in Iran: The STEPS Survey, 2011.
BACKGROUND
To date, no study has addressed the association between race/ethnicity and obesity considering other sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in Iran.


OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to study lifestyle and the environmental factors affecting obesity in the Iranian subjects of the STEPS Survey, 2011.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 8639 subjects (aged ≥ 20 years) in the STEPS Survey 2011 in Iran under supervision of the World Health Organization (WHO). Height and body weight were measured following the standardized procedures. Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) method was used to examine factors associated with obesity. The examined variables were age, gender, race/ethnicity, place of residence, employment status, physical activity, smoking status, and educational level.


RESULTS
Overall, 22.3% of the subjects were obese. In a GEE model, a healthy weight status among adults was associated with being younger, male, in a rural residence, employees, spending more time engaged in physical activity, being a smoker and having a moderate or high level of education. These associations were statistically significant after adjusting for other variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest a need for targeted interventions and continued surveillance for the Iranian adults.
Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Enayatollah
E
Bakhshi
Center for Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IR Iran.
Jalil
J
Koohpayehzadeh
Department of Physiology, Medicine School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Behjat
B
Seifi
Center for Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IR Iran.
Ali
A
Rafei
Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Akbar
A
Biglarian
Center for Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IR Iran.
Fereshteh
F
Asgari
Center for Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IR Iran.
Koorosh
K
Etemad
Department of Biostatistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Razieh
R
Bidhendi Yarandi
Ethnic Groups; Obesity; Race; Smoking