The comparison of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio among rural women adults in the North of Iran, between the years ۲۰۰۴ and ۲۰۱۳

BACKGROUND: Central obesity is a common health disorder, and the main objective of this study was to compare its changings among rural women in the north of Iran, between the years ۲۰۰۴ and ۲۰۱۳. METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies were established on the ۲۸۳۹ and ۲۴۷۸ subjects in ۲۰۰۴ (first stage) and ۲۰۱۳ (second stage), respectively. Among ۱۱۸ villages, ۲۰ were selected using random sampling; they were the same in two studies. Central obesity was defined as waist circumference (WC) > ۸۸ cm, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) > ۰.۸, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) > ۰.۵.RESULTS: The prevalence of central obesity in ۲۰۱۳ based on WC, WHR, and WHtR were ۳۷.۴%, ۷۳.۵%, and ۶۷.۸%, respectively. Compared with ۲۰۰۴, the prevalence of central obesity based on WHR increased as ۵.۴% (۶۸.۱% vs. ۷۳.۵%) (P = ۰.۰۰۱), whereas morbid obesity (WHtR > ۰.۶) based on WHtR decreased as ۳.۷% in ۲۰۱۳ (۲۸.۸% vs. ۲۵.۱%) (P = ۰.۰۰۴). Central obesity based on WHR significantly decreased in less or equal ۲۴-year-old group (۷۶.۶% vs. ۷۰.۱%) (P = ۰.۰۰۳), while it increased in ۲۵-۳۴- (۶۵.۱% vs. ۷۴.۰%) and in equal or more than ۳۵-year-old group (۵۴.۱% vs. ۷۸.۹%) (P = ۰.۰۰۱ for all). Moreover, morbid obesity decreased in all age, economic, and education groups (except uneducated one) (P < ۰.۰۵۰ for all). CONCLUSION: Despite the decrease in central obesity based on WC and WHR indices in ۲۰۰۴-۲۰۱۳ duration, we found the evidence of a decline in sever obesity based on WHtR in that period. These trends have an alarm for health policy makers, not only in this area but also in same communities. Comprehensive studies are recommended to determine the best obesity indicator related to health in future. 

کلیدواژه ها:

Central Obesity ، Trends ، Women ، Socioeconomic Status ، Iran