Temporal Changes in Lipid Profile and Anthropometric Parameters According to Body Mass Index, Among Iranian Adults

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine in the lipid profile during 3.6 years and anthropometric parameters in Iranian adults the changes during 3.6 year body mass index (BMI). Materials and methods: Among participants of the Tehran lipid and glucose study (TLGS), 2940 non-diabetic adults, aged 20 years and older, who remained within the same BMI group during the two phases of the survey and were not taking lipid lowering drugs were investigated. We used ANCOVA and the repeated measures test for delineating short time trends in mean levels and ratios of serum lipids as well as anthropometric parameters across BMI groups (WHO classification). Results: In all BMI groups the anthropometric indices of central and general obesity increased and total cholesterol (TC) (p<0.05) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p<0.001) levels decreased in both genders. Among men, the greatest decline in total cholesterol levels was observed in obese persons (7%), whereas the greatest decline in HDL-C levels was observed in normal-weight persons (9%). A significant increase in TC/HDL was observed only in men, whereas among the normal-weight sub-group, TC/HDL increased both in men (9%) and women (6%). Conclusions: Despite increases in general and abdominal obesity parameters, we observed favorable trends in total cholesterol levels. However declines in HDL cholesterol levels, and resulting increases in TC/HDL, particularly among normal-weight persons, could serve as a warning for increased risk of ischemic heart disease.