Cardiovascular disease risk factors, metabolic syndrome and obesity in an Iranian population.

As part of the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program, we evaluated the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in Iranians with generalized and abdominal obesity. We carried out a cross-sectional study on 3694 > or = 19 years. Overall, 36.6% of men and 35.9% of women were overweight; 11.2% of men and 28.l% of women were obese. Mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) increased with age up to 65 years. Total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and 2-hour post-load plasma glucose increased with BMI, WC and WHR in both sexes. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.8% in females with normal BMI, 48.1% in overweight females and 63.2% in obese females. In males, corresponding values were 3.7%, 18.0% and 40.1%.