Evaluation of nutrition and its relationship with BMI in adolescents in Birjand, South East of Iran

The prevalence of overweight and obesity as a major risk factor for several chronic diseases is increasing rapidly worldwide. Several studies pointed a correlation between obesity and nutrition pattern in children and adults. However, there are still some controversial aspects about this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index and nutritional pattern in adolescents.
This is a case-control study including 204 7th -12th grades high school children elected through multiple cluster-sampling in Birjand city. A questionnaire consisted of nutritional patterns was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.15. The statistical tests used were Chi square and t-test at α= 0.05.
There was no significant difference in age, gender and grade of school between overweight/obese and normal weight subjects. Although there was higher calorie intake in obese/overweight group, but there was no significant difference discovered. There was lower consumption of breakfast in the obese/overweight group (p=0.04). The average number of meals during one weak was significantly more in obese adolescents than normal ones (p The amount of calorie consumption was not different between case and control in this study, thus, other factors including physical inactivity and genetic factors should be investigated in further studies.