Association of physical activity and food intakes with overweight and obesity in military personnel in I.R of Iran: A cross sectional study
In the third millennium obesity as the most common metabolic disease the world has become in all age groups and in most developed countries and developing is increasing. The aim of this study was determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the military personnel and assessing variations across some related factors.
METHODS:
In this cross sectional study a sample of 271 persons were selected. Determining overweight and obese was based on body mass index (BMI). Three survey instruments, a questionnaire about food habits were used to assess the participants' consumption of foods and drinks and to identify. The time that the recruits presently spent in light or hard physical activity was measured with the other questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire consists of demographic characteristics was employed to collect demographic data. Data was analyzed using SPSS software and Spearman correlation coefficient and logistic regression statistics.
RESULTS:
Mean age of participants, years of occupied, BMI, is 40.41 year (STD = 7.63 year), 18.9 year (7.60) and 27.4 Kg/ m2 (3.6) respectively. In this study, the prevalence rate of overweight and obese in sequence is 57.2 and 21.0 percent respectively. The association between BMI and age, education, marital status and veteran experience are not statistically significant (P>0.05). Spearman correlation coefficient between BMI and physical activity is statistically significant (r= -0.12 & P< 0.05). Spearman correlation coefficient between BMI and bread and cereal intake is statistically significant (r= +0.14 & P< 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
Overweight and obesity prevalence among military personnel is high. This health problem was associated with physical activity and food intake. Serious interference in these two factors to prevent overweight, obesity and subsequent complications is necessary.