Overweight, obesity and associated factors in 14-18 year-old adolescents of Shiraz-Iran

Abstract

 

Objective: This paper examines the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among 14-18-year-old adolescents of Shiraz-Iran.
Methods: Using a multistage random sampling of 289 males and 249 females, were recruited. Daily physical activity, calorie intake and other important information were obtained using two days 24-hour recall of physical activities, a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and a self-administrative questionnaire respectively. Height, weight and BMI z-scores were measured based on standard protocols.
Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18% and 6.7% respectively. Prevalence of overweight including obesity was associated negatively with socioeconomic status of school area (χ²=6.6, p=0.037), father’s total years of schooling (13.5% vs. 41.4% and 45.1%), supplement consumption (χ²=6.0, p=0.015), energy density of foods (χ²=10.3, p=0.006) but was positively associated with calorie restraint (χ²=7.9, p=0.005), family history of obesity (χ²=14.8, p=0.000), sleep disturbances (χ²=14.1, p=0.042) and body satisfaction (χ²=13.1, p=0.001). Socioeconomic status of school area (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.1-3.2), supplement consumption (OR=0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.8), calorie restraint (OR=3.0, 95% CI=1.5-5.8), family history of obesity (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2-2.9), body satisfaction (OR=1.9, 95% CI=1.1-3.4) energy density of foods (OR=0.5, 95% CI=0.2-0.9) and sleeping hours (OR=1.7, 95% CI=1.1-2.6) contributed significantly to overweight after controlling for other variables.
Conclusions: Findings of this study showed that overweight/obesity was prevalent among Iranian adolescents. Encouraging adolescents especially those with a positive family history of obesity to follow more favorable lifestyle may markedly protect them against the onset of obesity and its psychosocial and physical consequences.