The prevalence of obesity in older adults in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: one of the most important age-dependent physiologic alterations in the body composition of older adult people is obesity and overweight, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality rate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of obesity in older adults in Iran. METHODS: The present study was conducted via meta-analysis and systematic review method, from March 2000 to October 2018. Subject-related literature was obtained via searches in ScienceDirect, Medline (PubMed), SID, Magiran, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed using the I(2) index, and data were analyzed by Comprehensive-Meta analysis software. RESULTS: In the assessment of 18 studies and 29,943 persons aged over 50 years, the prevalence of obesity in older adults of Iran was 21.4% (95%CI: 26.6–16.9%) based on the meta-analysis. The highest obesity prevalence was obtained in older adults of Babol (Amir Shahr) which was 44.2% (95%CI: 41.1–47.2%) in 2007, while the minimum obesity prevalence was found in older adults of Razavi Khorasan which was 11.3% (95%CI, 10–12.8%) in 2007. Further, as the sample size and the study year increased, the obesity prevalence diminished in older Iranian adults (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the prevalence of obesity in the older adults of Iran is high. Accordingly, healthcare planners and politicians should consider effective and practical policies to reduce obesity in older adults.