Sahar Golpour-Hamedani - Food Security Research Center AND Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Noushin Mohammadifard - Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Alireza Khosravi - Hypertension Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Awat Feizi - Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute AND Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Sayyed Morteza Safavi - Food Security Research Center AND Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the effects of dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet on obesity in children. The present study was conducted to examine adherence to the DASH diet in relation to obesity in children and adolescents, Isfahan, Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among ۴۵۶ children aged ۱۱-۱۸ years who were selected by random cluster sampling method. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The DASH score was constructed based on food items emphasized or minimized in the DASH diet. Anthropometric measurements were conducted based on standard protocols. General and abdominal obesity were defined based on body mass index ≥ ۹۵th percentiles and waist: height ratio of more than ۰.۵, respectively. RESULTS: Higher adherence to DASH diet was inversely associated with general obesity (odds ratioT۱ vs. T۳ ۳.۳۴, ۹۵% confidence interval ۱.۲۸-۸.۷۵); however, after controlling for confounding factors, this association disappeared. Furthermore, higher adherence to DASH diet was negatively associated with central obesity in children, but the relation was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We concluded that there was an inverse nonsignificant association between adherence to DASH diet and general obesity indices after adjustment for potential confounders. Further, well-designed randomized clinical trial studies are suggested to find out the effect of DASH diet on obesity obviously.   

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Obesity, Anthropometry, Hypertension, Adolescents, Children