Metabolic Variables Influencing Body Mass Index and Overweight: A Path Analysis within a Cross-Sectional Study

Marzieh Mahmoodi; Tania Dehesh; Paria Dehesh

Marzieh Mahmoodi
Tania Dehesh Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Paria Dehesh

Keywords: Biomedical factors, Obesity, Body Mass Index, Triglyceride (TG), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Abstract

Background and aims: This study aims to explore the most responsible, influential metabolic variables of Body Mass Index (BMI) and investigating the direct and indirect effect of them with path analysis. Material and method: 350 adults aged 18 years and older without any chronic diseases who came for an annual blood check-up were included in this study. Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels were measured using standard laboratory methods. Path analysis was carried out to examine the role of Triglyceride (TG) mediator on the relationship between age, FBS and TSH on BMI. Results: The TSH has a significant indirect effect on BMI (P=0.017). The age has both direct and indirect effects on BMI (P=0.003). The age and TSH have a direct effect on the TG (p < 0.05) and the mediator of TG has a direct effect on BMI (P=0.001).Conclusions: Controlling some biomedical factors leads to controlling the obesity as one of the main concerns in public health. Unexpectedly, TSH even had an indirect effect through TG on BMI. Also, because BMI is indirectly affected by age with the mediator of TG, controlling triglyceride along with increasing age, becomes more important.