Epidemiological update on prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity in adults in the south-east of the Islamic Republic of Iran: findings from the Kerman Coronary Artery Diseases Risk Factors Study (KERCADRS)

Background: Obesity is common worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Aims: To update data on the prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity, and to measure incidence rates for such outcomes in adults living in the south-east of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: We enrolled 9997 adults (aged 15–80 years) between 2014 and 2018 (phase 2); 2820 of whom had participated in phase 1 (2009–2011). Participants were examined for overweight, obesity, central obesity, diabetes, hypertension, low physical activity, and dyslipidaemia. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the potential predictors of overweight, obesity and central obesity, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were obtained. Incidence rate of overweight, obesity and central obesity was reported among those who had none of these outcomes in phase 1. Results: The prevalence was 35.8% (37% men, 35% women) for overweight, 22.3% (16% men, 26.3% women) for obesity, and 31.1% (15.6% men, 41.2% women) for central obesity. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was significantly associated with age (AOR = 2.8–7.4), higher education (AOR = 1.7), female gender (AOR = 1.4), low physical activity (AOR = 1.3), smoking (AOR = 0.55) and opium use (AOR = 0.79). The prevalence increased from 33.3% to 35.8% for overweight and from 15.4% to 22.3% for obesity between phases 1 and 2. The incidence rate per 100 person-years was 5.5 for overweight, 4.7 for obesity and 2.9 for central obesity. Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity increased over 5 years. Middle-aged participants, women, and those with low physical activity were at higher risk for overweight/obesity.