The positive association between number of children and obesity in Iranian women and men: Results from the National Health Survey

2008

Children and Obesity in Iranian Couples

Sample size: 2728 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Bakhshi Enayatollah, Eshraghian Mohammad Reza, Mohammad Kazem, Foroushani Abbas Rahimi, Zeraati Hojat, Fotouhi Akbar, Siassi Fraidon, Seifi Behjat

Primary Institution: Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Hypothesis

Is there an association between the number of children and obesity in Iranian couples?

Conclusion

The study found that having more children is associated with higher obesity rates in both men and women.

Supporting Evidence

Each additional child increases the odds of obesity by 18% in men and 16% in women.
The mean BMI of study members was 26.1 kg/m2, with 17.5% classified as obese.
Factors influencing obesity included education level, economic index, and smoking status.

Takeaway

The more kids you have, the more likely you are to be overweight. This study shows that having children can lead to obesity.

Methodology

Data from the National Health Survey was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation model to estimate the odds of obesity based on the number of children.