The Effect of Community-Based Education for Lifestyle Intervention on the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background: It has been shown that life style modification may decrease the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, but this intervention has not been reported in community setting. Objectives: Effect of lifestyle modification on prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were assessed in an urban population. Materials and Methods: In 6870 participants of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study aged 20-74 years, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components were measured before and after a 3.6 years interval. Lifestyle intervention was employed at a community level including 2961 individuals and also 3909 subjects which were recruited as controls. Logistic regression analysis was adjusted for age, sex and medications. Results: After 3.6 years, the rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was less prominent in intervention than control group (P < 0.002 for increase of metabolic syndrome prevalence between groups), with an OR of 0.84 (confidence interval 0.75-0.95). After intervention the prevalence of abdominal obesity, elevated fasting glucose levels, elevated triglyceride and low HDL cholesterol were more prominent in control group, as compared to intervention group. Conclusions: Community based lifestyle modifications in Tehranian adults delayed rise in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and some of its components.