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Abstract Background and purpose: In recent years non communicable diseases risk factors such as tobacco consumption, overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, insufficient exercise, and improper diet, which all take root from bad lifestyle, have been increased due to lifestyle change, industrialization and epidemiological transition. Research findings based on epidemiological studies indicate that worldwide prevalent diseases are the result of some risk factors. Hence, this study aimed to determine the frequency of risk factors of the main non communicable diseases among inhabitants of Mazandaran province. Materials and methods: This study was carried out according to step by step approach suggested by WHO among Iranian population of rural and urban regions of Mazandaran province. One thousand individuals (500 male) in fifty strata of twenty and in five age group of 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64 years were studied. Data on variables such as tobacco consumption, nutrition, exercise, height, weight, and blood pressure were collected by means of observation and interview and were registered in the questionnaires. Data were entered to Epi6 and data analysis was carried out by Stata 11. Results: Mean of BMI was 26.2 kg/m2, 23.8 percent were obese, 16.1 percent had high blood pressure, 10.3 percent were smokers, 26 percent had low exercises and 90.3 percent of them had 5 or less units of daily fruit and vegetables intake. 28 percent of male and 24.9 percent of female were high risk. Conclusion: Five risk factors contributing to non-communicable diseases are of high prevalence in Mazandaran province. Since these risk factors have cumulative effects on each other and almost all of them take root from improper behaviors, so by modifying these behaviors as well as lifestyle change, their prevalence might decrease, which in tarn may cause a significant decrease in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancers.

Keywords: Key words: Risk factors, non communicable diseases, prevalence

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