Association of educational level and marital status with dietary intake and cardiovascular risk factors in Tehranian adults: Tehran lipid and glucose study (TLGS)

This study was conducted to assess the association of educational level and marital status with dietary intake, obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. 733 subjects, 408 women and 325 men, aged between 20-60 years, were randomly selected from the participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Data on educational level, and marital status were obtained by a questionnaire. Following measurement of weight, height, waist and hip according to standard protocol, body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Dietary intake was assessed by completing two 24-hour dietary recalls during face to face interviews. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides levels, and HDL cholesterol were measured after 12-14 hours fasting. Subjects were divided into four groups based on educational levels: illiterate or low literacy, intermediary school, high school and university graduates. Adjusted for age, increases in triglycerides levels in men with high educational levels were observed. In women with different educational levels, none of the studied variables differed. In married men total energy intake (3001 ± 625 vs. 2905 ± 543 Kcal/d, P < 0.05) and iron intake (29.0±8.1 vs. 28.1± 10 mg/d, P < 0.05) were significantly higher than in single men. BMI and WHR in single women were lower than in married ones (P < 0.05) and HDL-cholesterol was higher in single men (P < 0.05) and women (P < 0.01). We concluded that educational level and marital status has an association with BMI, WHR, serum lipid levels and dietary intake, in men and women.