PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BOSTAN-ABAD, IRAN

Background and Aim: Overweight and obesity are among the most prevalent nutritional problems in developed and developing countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among northwest Iranian high-school students. Methods: This descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 480 students (277 boys and 203 girls; aged 14-17 years) along with their mothers by random sampling from high schools in Bostan-Abad, East Azerbaijan, Iran. Weight and height of participants were measured. Results: The prevalence rates of obesity and overweight in students were 5.8% and 22.3%, respectively. Of the study subjects, 1.7% had a BMI-for-age below the -3 Z score according to the WHO 2007, an indicator of underweight. The mean BMI-for-age of students was 23.7±3.4 (for boys) and 22.1±3.3 (for girls). Also, Overweight and obesity was seen in 45.6% and 26.9% of the mothers, respectively. The mean BMI of mothers was 27.6±4.2. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Bostan-Abad high-school students is higher than in many, but not all, parts of Iran. Further studies are needed to identify risk factors for the obesity in our studied population. Findings emphasize the importance of establishing community–based interventions in order to prevent the development of adolescent obesity and its complications in adulthood.

Keywords:

Obesity , Overweight , body mass index , Adolescent , Iran