Obesity and associated modifiable environmental factors in Iranian adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program − Heart Health Promotion from Childhood

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents and their relationship with modifiable environmental factors. METHODS: The subjects of the present study were 1000 girls and 1000 boys, aged between 11 and 18 years selected by multistage random sampling, their parents (n = 2000) and their school staff (n = 500 subjects) in urban and rural areas of two provinces in Iran. Data concerning body mass index (BMI), nutrition and the physical activity of the subjects were analyzed by SPSSV10/Win software. RESULTS: The prevalence of 85th percentile 95th percentile in girls was significantly higher than boys (10.7 +/- 1.1 and 2.9 +/- 0.1%vs 7.4 +/- 0.9 and 1.9 +/- 0.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). The mean BMI value was significantly different between urban and rural areas (25.4 +/- 5.2 vs 23.2 +/- 7.1 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.05). A BMI> 85th percentile was more prevalent in families with an average income than in high-income families (9.3 +/- 1.7 vs 7.2 +/- 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.05) and in those with lower-educated mothers (9.2 +/- 2.1 vs 11.5 +/- 2.4 years of mothers education, respectively). The mean total energy intake was not different between overweight or obese and normal-weight subjects (1825 +/- 90 vs 1815 +/- 85 kCal, respectively; P > 0.05), but the percentage of energy derived from carbo-hydrates was significantly higher in the former group compared with the latter (69.4 vs 63.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). Regular extracurricular sports activities were significantly lower and the time spent watching tele-vision was significantly higher in overweight or obese than non-obese subjects (time spent watching telelvision: 300 +/- 20 vs 240 +/- 30 min/day, P < 0.05). A significant linear association was shown between the frequency of consumption of rice, bread, pasta, fast foods and fat/salty snacks and BMI (beta = 0.05-0.06; P < 0.05). A significant correlation was shown between BMI percentiles and serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (Pearson's r = 0.38, -0.32 and 0.47, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced efforts to prevent and control overweight from childhood is a critical national priority, even in developing countries. To be successful, social, cultural and economic influences should be considered.     

Health and Nutrition in Newly Resettled Refugee Children from Chile and the Middle East

ABSTRACT. The general health and nutritional status of 105 refugee children from Chile and the Middle East were examined shortly after the arrival in Stockholm. A chronic medical condition was present in 10% and there were clinical signs of canes in 57% of the children. Iron deficiency was found in 15% of Chileans and 6% of Middle Easterners, but no other nutritional deficiencies were discovered. Stunting and wasting was rare and a significant catch-up growth was observed in both groups in a follow-up 18 months after resettlement. Obesity was common in the Chilean group on arrival in Sweden and increased further after resettlement. We conclude that chronic medical conditions, canes and obesity were the major somatic health problems in this sample of newly resettled refugee children.