Snack pattern in relation to body mass index and lipid profile in overweight and obese adults in Tabriz

Proper nutrition is one of the important contributing factors in health and preventing of obesity. This study was aimed to assess the consumption of snacks and their relationship with Obesity and lipid profile in overweight and obese adults in Tabriz.
The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 422 men and women aged 20-60 years with body mass index (BMI) over than 24.99Kg/m2. Weight and height were measured and BMI were classified into four groups i.e."25-29.99Kg/m2" - "30-34.99Kg/m2" and "35-39.99Kg/m2" and "≥40Kg/m2". Fasting blood sampling was taken to assess serum lipid profile. After completing the 80-food item food frequency questionnaire, median of weekly frequency consumption of snacks in relation to BMI and serum lipid profiles were analyzed using correlation coefficient.
There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and serum total cholesterol (P=0.001) and triglyceride (P=0.009) levels. The most common snacks were fruits and tea while low-fat milk and fruit cans showed the lowest weekly frequency. BMI showed a negative and positive correlation respectively with weekly frequency consumption of low-fat milk and tea. There was also found a significant negative correlation between serum total cholesterol and weekly frequency consumption of natural juices (r=-0.100, P=0.041), industrial juices (r=-0.147, P=0.002), also between serum HDL-c levels with weekly frequency consumption of ice cream (r=-0.120, P=0.016) and LDL-c levels with weekly frequency consumption of industrial juice (r=-0.140, P=0.005). Weekly frequency consumption of coffee and ice cream were negatively correlated with Serum triglyceride levels.
Our findings support the beneficial effect of healthy snacks such as low-fat milk, juices on lipid profile as well as BMI.