Nutrition and physical activity in Iranian dyslipidemic patients

Dyslipidemia is an important cause of cardiovascular diseases with increasing rates among adult populations. Nutrition and physical activity are known to have impacts on degrees of dyslipidemia. In this article, we had a study on nutritional behaviors and physical activities among middle- aged adults with and without dyslipidemia.

In this case control study 200 middle- aged adults were entered. 100 adults with dyslipidemia and 100 normal adults were included in this study. Data regarding desirable or undesirable use of fruits, vegetables ,dairy, saturated fatty acids, fast foods, carbonated drinks and extra salt intake with every  meal were collected. Intensity and duration of physical activities were also collected from our data bank and analyzed with SPSS software.

Our results indicated that people with dyslipidemia had a significantly increased usage of fast foods and saturated fatty acids while the normal population had increased usage of vegetables and dairy. There were also significantly increased in intensity, duration per day and weekly days of physical activity in healthy groups. Logistic regression indicated that undesirable consumption of fast foods, dairy, fatty acids, vegetables and undesirable physical activity increase the risks for dyslipidemia (OR= 8.2, OR=16.2, OR= 8.2, OR= 18.3 and OR= 25.3 respectively) (P<0.05).

This article emphasizes the role of proper nutritional behaviors and higher physical activities in decreasing the risks of dyslipidemia and we suggest that further preventive interventions could be made based on the results of our study.