Body Mass Index and ABO Blood Groups among Different Ethnicities of the Golestan Cohort Study Subjects

50 INTRODUCTION Obesity is one of the most important health problems worldwide. In the United States, approximately one third of the adults are obese and more than $50 billion per year is spent on obesity-related medical care(1). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in most developed and developing countries have been increasing markedly over the past two decades(2). The association of obesity with increased morbidity and mortality is confirmed in several studies(3). Decrease in quality of life is one of substantial psychosocial consequences of obesity as well(4 -6). Recent epidemiological studies have revealed that the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and metabolic Body Mass Index and ABO Blood Groups among Different Ethnicities of the Golestan Cohort Study Subjects