Prevalence of obesity, fat distribution and its relationship with food consumption pattern in secondary school girls in Lahijan

Obesity is one of the most important public health problems of adolescents in developed countries. Recently, the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically among adolescents of developing countries as a result of changes in life style and rapid urbanization of societies. As data on the prevalence of obesity in adolescents is very sparse in Iran, the present study was conducted between 2000-2001 in high school girls, aged 14-17 years, living in Lahijan to determine the relationship between obesity and fat distribution with food consumption patterns. In this descriptive-analytical study, 400 students were selected by random stratified sampling from 12 schools. Data were collected on demographic status, 24-hour dietary recall, food habits and food frequency questionnaires for all subjects. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured and BMI and WHR were calculated. BMIs at or above the 85th and 95th percentiles for age and sex (based on WHO standard) were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. Also, WHR of 0. 8 or greater was considered as central obesity. Data were analysed by the SPSS program and independent t-test, chi-square, Pearson correlation and ANOVA tests. The prevalences of obesity and overweight were 5. 3% and 14. 8%, respectively. 21. 5% of subjects and 66. 7% of obese girls had a central pattern of fat distribution. Mean energy, carbohydrate and fat intakes were significantly higher for overweight/obese girls than for under weight and normal weight girls (p<0. 0001). Results showed that an increase in the consumption of fattening and refined foods plays an important role in increasing energy consumption and prevalence of obesity in adolescents. Also, in obese adolescents, fat deposition occurs in the body’s central regions. Considering that central obesity has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, more attention must be paid to improving the nutritional status and initiating changes in dietary patterns of adolescents through policy making and nutritional education.