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Background and Objective: Overweight, obesity and ethnicity are effective factors on pregnancy complications. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between third tri-mester body mass index (BMI) with maternal and neonatal complications. Methods: This descriptive analytic study was conducted on 551 pregnant women in third tri-mester with Fars, Sistani and Turkman ethnicities in Sayad Shirazi teaching hospital in Gorgan, north of Iran during 2012. BMI calculated at the time of labor admission and the subjects categorized into three groups of normal / underweight, overweight and obese. Results: The mean of maternal age among Fars, Sistani and Turkman ethnic groups were 26.5±5.5, 24.6±5.3 and 26.2±5.2 years, respectively. The mean of gestational age among Fars, Sistani and Turkman ethnic groups were 38.4±2.3, 38.6±2.3 and 37.4±3.2 weeks, respectively. A significant relationship was found between BMI and cesarean section and labor dystocia in Fars and Sistani ethnic groups, respectively (P<0.05), while no relationship was found between BMI and neonatal complications. Conclusion: Overweight and obesity in Fars ethnicity are at risk of cesarean section and those with Sistani ethnicity are at risk of labor dystocia.

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Background and Objective: Several studies reported the contraventional effects of L-Carnitine on body fat percentages and lipoprotein profile. This study was done to evaluate the effect of six weeks supplementation of L-Carnitine on body fat percentages and lipoprotein profile non-athlete male students. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 non-athlete male students whom were non-randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. Subjects in both groups performed aerobic exercises for six weeks based on the principle of overload. Over the course of this period, subjects in the experimental group were received 13 mg/kg/bw of complement g L-Carnitine, orally. Controls were received 3 mg/ke/g/bw of starch on daily bases. Blood samples were collected before and after the training period. HDL, LDL-c, VLDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, body fat percentage and body mass index were recorded for each subject. Results: Aerobic exercise with supplementation of L-Carnitine significantly increased HDL and reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, body fat percentage and VLDL, but had no significant impact on LDL-c and body mass index. Conclusion: Consumption of slight doses of L-Carnitine in combination with aerobic exercise reduces body fat percentage and lipoprotein profile of non-athlete male students

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Background and Objective: Flax seed has been shown to play a role in the prevention and treatment of dislipidemia and inflammation, which may enhance the benefits of training. This study was done to determine the effect of 10 weeks of aerobic training with flax seed supplementation on blood lipids profile and C-reactive protein in obese women.

Methods: In this clinical trail study, 45 obese middle-age women were randomly divided into 3 groups. Aerobic training program was performed 50-60 min/d, 3d/wk, for 10 weeks. Subjects in aerobic training with flax seed supplementation were received 6-9 garms, daily of flax seed. Body composition and metabolic parameters were assessed before and after the training period.

Results: Flax seed supplementation significantly improved triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol TC/HDL, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass (P<0.05). Flax seed supplementation in combination  with aerobic training significantly improved adiposity indices body weight,body mass index, waist circumference , fat mass, triglyceride, HDL- cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, LDL/HDL and TC/HDL (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Flax seed is safe and effective for improvement of cardiometabolic health in obse women and combination of flax seed can enhance beneficial effect of training over a ten-week period.

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Background and Objective: Sleep is an important component of the circadian cycle is associated with the restoration of the physical and mental faculties. Physical activity is one of the confounding factors in improving sleep quality. This study was done to determine the effect of physical activity on quality of sleep in female students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 female students in Zabol University in south-east of Iran. Demographic data through a questionnaire were collected for each subject. Sleep quality and physical activity of subjects were recorded using standardized questionnaire Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and physical activity Beck test. Subjects according to physical activity divided into active and inactive groups.

Results: Poor sleep quality was seen in 25.2% and 67.4% of active and inactive students, respectively. Mean of Sleep quality in both groups active 5.73±3.22 and inactive  7.21±3.75 was inappropriate but sleep quality in active females was higher than inactive females (P<0.05). A favorable condition for the quality of sleep was seen in 65.7% of the active group with BMI<25 and only 9.1% of students BMI was more than 25. In inactive students, 60.8% of subjects with BMI<25 had poor sleep quality. Both levels of BMI, sleep quality was significantly different between the groups, but this difference was higher in the active group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Poor sleep quality was seen in high percentage of female students and physical activity influences the quality of sleep.

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Background and Objective: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is considered as a metabolic disorder and it is one of the most common endocrine and heterogeneous disorders with complex pathogenesis among women in reproductive ages. This study was done to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosis of lipid accumulate product index (LAP), insulin resistance, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Methods: In this case control study, antropometrics, biochemical parameters, LAP and insulin resistance in 43 women suffering from PCOS as case and 40 healthy women as control were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC) was determined for each subject. LAP was defined as [WC (cm)-58´TG (m mol/L)]. PCOS was diagnosed according to Roterdam standard .Insulin resistance was defined based on Homeostatic model assessment – insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
Results: The mean age, BMI, WHR and LAP index, among PCOS women were 24.06±5.86, 26.61±4.34, 0.81±0.061 and 47.13±4.13, respectively. There was a direct and significant correlation between HOMA-IR index and BMI, WC and LAP in case group (P<0.05). Statistical analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of LAP, BMI, WC and WHR were 46.93, 27.91, 93 and 0.81 respectively.
Conclusion: The WC, BMI and LAP indices are useful in screening the insulin resistance in patients with PCOS.