Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Aim: Diet quality in children has been associated with prevention of obesity during adulthood. The aim of this study was to examine diet quality and its association with weight status among Iranian adolescents. Methods: The revised-children diet quality index (RC-DQI) was used to determine diet quality in a representative sample of 13 to 15 years old adolescents (n=480) selected by stratified sampling from four educational districts of Shiraz, Iran. Food intake was determined by a valid food frequency questionnaire. Overweight and obesity were defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th and 95th percentile respectively, for adolescents of the same age and sex. All statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 19 and food analyses were done using modified nutritionist four for Iranian food. Linear and logistic regressions were used to explore the relation between diet quality and its components or BMI. P-value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The participants mean age was 14.7 years and 56% of students were girls. The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 16.16%. Mean RC-DQI score was 58 points (range 28 to 89). Diet quality scores were higher in girls (p=0.02) and were inversely associated with adolescents weight (p=0.01). Overweight and obesity was significantly associated with poor diet quality: OR of 1.54 (95 % CI 1.02 2.36). There was an inverse association between diet quality and sugar consumption (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.72). Furthermore, diet quality score was positively associated with dairy products (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.17), fruits (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.73), and vegetables (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.36). Conclusion: There is an association between diet quality and obesity in adolescents. Childhood obesity might be prevented if diet quality based on dietary guidelines has been improved among adolescents.

Biography

Email: parisa.keshani@gmail.com