title: General and Central Obesity in Two Iranian Ethnic Groups Living in Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran: Effect of the Neighborhood Environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emerging evidence suggests that neighborhood characteristics can have direct and indirect effects on the weight status of the residents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between general and central obesity and the neighborhood environment in two ethnic groups (Azeri Turks and Kurds) living in Urmia city, Northwestern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 723 participants (427 women and 296 men) aged 20 - 64 years from two ethnic groups (Azeri Turks, n = 445; Kurds, n = 278) were selected from 38 neighborhoods using a combination of cluster, random, and systematic sampling methods. Neighborhood characteristics were obtained by a validated 22-item neighborhood and a health observational checklist. General and central obesity were measured and evaluated using standard methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to define the dominant neighborhood environment. The association of neighborhood characteristics with general and central obesity was analyzed by a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three common neighborhood environments were identified: 1) modern-affluent, 2) central-high access and 3) marginal. These three factors explained 73.2% of the total variance. Overall, the participants living in a higher tertile of the central-high access neighborhoods had an increased chance of central obesity (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.13 - 2.34). Azeri Turks living in the highest tertile of the modern-affluent neighborhoods had a significantly higher likelihood of having general obesity (OR = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.37 - 4.01). Adjustment for age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status (SES), energy intake, and physical activity did not change the results. However, after adjustment for educational level, the association was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings point to a relationship between neighborhood characteristics and obesity only in the Azeri Turks. However, educational level was more important than neighborhood quality in predicting the risk of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Omidvar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eini-Zinab
authors.affiliation: Department of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tehran University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghazi-Tabatabaie
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghavamzadeh
authors.affiliation: Food and Beverages Safety Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nouri-Saeidlou
keywords: Ethnology; Iran; Obesity; Residence Characteristics