The prevalence of obesity and wasting and their correlation with food intake in female junior school students in Zahedan, 2004

By considering important role of nutrition in children and teenagers’ health, their nutritional status are determined as obesity and wasting using weight and height. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and wasting and their relationship to food intake in female students of junior schools in Zahedan.

In a descriptive analytical cross-sectional study, 687 female students from junior schools were selected by multiple stage sampling method. After recording the participants’ demographic data, their weight and height were measured for body mass index (BMI) calculation according to standard method. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES II) data and a 48-hour recall questionnaire were used.

Of the surveyed girls, 16.9%, 31.7% and 13.2% were wasted, under weight and stunted, respectively 8.7% and 1.7% were over weight and obese, respectively. The mean of energy intake was 1502.1±415.7 kcal/d in the students which is less than the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) and there were no balances in daily intake of protein, carbohydrate and lipids. In respect to energy and protein intake, 94.1% and 26.6% of students had deficiency, respectively. On the other hand, findings showed iron (72.1%), calcium (99.8%), phosphorus (83.6%), zinc (84.3%), vitamin A (63.8%) and B12 (66.5%) intake deficiencies.

The female students of junior schools of Zahedan do not have a proper nutritional status according to physical state, energy, protein, and micronutrients intakes and they are at the risk of wasting and underweight. Therefore, we suggest implementation of programs for nutritional support and designing of proper patterns of food consumption to improve female junior students’ nutritional status.