title: Salt and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Existing research has investigated the association between sodium intake and obesity. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of reported evidence regarding the association between sodium intake and obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched for observational studies published until August 2016. A systematic literature review identified 11 cohort and 21 cross-sectional studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 32 studies identified in the systematic literature search, only 18 cross-sectional reports had sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis. Higher sodium consumption was associated with greater BMI (weighed mean difference (WMD) = 1.24 kg/m2, 95%CI: 0.80, 1.67; I2=98.4%; p < .0001), and higher sodium intake was associated with 4.75 cm (95%CI: 3.25, 6.25; 90.8%; p <.0001) greater waist circumference (WC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis suggests that sodium consumption was associated with greater BMI and WC.
authors.affiliation: a Food Security Research Center , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.|b Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.|c Students' Research Committee , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Parisa
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Moosavian
authors.affiliation: a Food Security Research Center , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.|b Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haghighatdoost
authors.affiliation: d Department of International Health , John Hopkins School of Public Health , Baltimore , MD USA.
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Surkan
authors.affiliation: a Food Security Research Center , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.|b Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science , Isfahan University of Medical Sciences , Isfahan , Iran.|e Diabetes Research Center , Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.|f Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics , Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
keywords: Salt; abdominal obesity; body mass index; obesity; waist circumference