Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension and Obesity Among Iranian Adults: Yazd Health Study-TAMYZ and Shahedieh Cohort

Abstract PurposeEstablished data revealed a relationship between obesity and increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity of chronic diseases. There are conflicting data regarding the association between adherence of Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and obesity. Therefore, this study intends to investigate this relationship among a large sample of Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed by 10693 individuals; in the urban population: Yazd Health Study (n=6750), and in the suburb region: Shahedieh cohort study (n=3943). Dietary intake was evaluated by using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). In all participants, anthropometric indices including body mass index were measured. The DASH score was considered utilizing gender-specific quintiles of DASH items. To evaluate the relationship of DASH diet and obesity, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used.ResultsBy adjusting confounders, participants in highest quintiles of DASH diet compared to the lowest have lower odds of obesity in suburb area (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.96), in urban (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99), and in whole population of both studies (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.90). Besides, more compliance of women to this diet in urban (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.85) and population of both studies (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.96) were associated with reduced odds of central obesity. ConclusionsDASH dietary pattern could decrease odds of obesity in both urban and suburb area, and central obesity in urban area only. Further prospective studies are needed for causal conclusion.