Which one: Education, central and general obesity, age, glycemia, and diabetes has the strongest effect on fasting blood sugar and lipid profile in healthy overweight/obese Iranian women?

Abstract

• Background: The aim of this study is to access which modifiable, non-modifiable and socioeconomic factors are a good predictor for lipid profiles and fasting blood sugar (FBS) in healthy over weight and obese women.
• Materials and Methods: This clinical cross-sectional study is done with 811 overweight and obese women in the age group of 20-60 years of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this study, the dependent variables were FBS, lipids profile and the independent variables were educational level, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), age, fasting glycemia and diabetes.
• Results: Significant factors associated with FBS were age, BMI, education and WHR, but the effect of age was stronger than others. For TC, only glycemia had significant effect (P=0.004, OR 1.9) vs. other independent variables odds ratios. Having diabetes, BMI ≥30 mg/dl and education ≤12 years were significant factors associated with TG but the effect of diabetes was stronger than others (OR: 2.7, 2.2, 1.9 for Diabetes, BMI, and education respectively). The effect of age was stronger than other independent factors with LDL-C. Logistic regression model had not shown any significant association between independent variables with HDL-C.
• Conclusion: based on obtained results, for healthy overweight and obese women, age, glycemia, and having diabetes can be considered for predicting FBS and LDL-C, TC, and TG respectively.
• Key words: Age, central and general obesity, diabetes, education, glycemia, Iranian women, lipid profile, overweight/obese