Author/Authors :
Bahreynian,Maryam Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Kelishadi, Roya Department of Pediatrics - Child Growth and Development Research Center - Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Noncommunicable Disease - Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Qorbani, Mostafa Department of Community Medicine - School of Medicine - Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj , Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil Department of Pediatrics - Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz , Kasaeian, Amir Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Najafi, Fereshteh Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Ardalan, Gelayol Department of School Health - Bureau of Population - Family and School Health - Ministry of Health and Medical Education , Arefi Rad, Tahereh Department of Exercise Physiology - Science and Research Branch, - Islamic Azad University, Tehran , Asayesh, Hamid Department of Medical Emergency - Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom , Heshmat, Ramin Chronic Diseases Research Center - Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Background: Excess weight in children and adolescents is a multi-factorial phenomenon and associated with earlier risk of obesityrelated
diseases. Th is study aims to assess the prevalence of weight disorders and the mean values of anthropometric indices according
to regional, socioeconomic, and urban-rural variations among Iranian children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: Th is
nationwide study was performed in 2011-2012 among a representative multi-stage cluster sample of 14,880 Iranian students aged
6-8 years. Th e World Health Organization (WHO) reference curves were used to defi ne weight disorders. Abdominal obesity was
defi ned as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of more than 0.5. Iran was classifi ed into four regions according to the socioeconomic
status (SES). Results: Th e mean (95% confi dence interval) of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference
(HC) was 18.8 (18.7, 18.9) kg/m2, 67.0 (66.7, 67.3) cm, and 80.8 (80.3, 81.2) cm, respectively. Th e prevalence of underweight was
12.2%. A total of 9.7%, 11.9%, and 19.1% of students overweight, obese, and abdominally obese, respectively. Th e highest mean of
BMI, WC, wrist circumference, HC, and WHtR were related to the second high SES (North-northeast) area (19.2 [18.8, 19.5], 68.3
[67.3, 69.4], 14.8 [14.7, 15.0], 82.6 [81.1, 84.0], and 0.464 [0.460, 0.468]). In contrast, the lowest SES (Southeast) region had the lowest
mean of these anthropometric indices (17.6 [17.1, 18.2], 63.2 [61.7, 64.8], 14.5 [14.2, 14.8], 76.9 [74.9, 79.0], and 0.439 [0.434, 0.444]).
Conclusion: We found considerable diff erences in the prevalence of anthropometric measures throughout the country by SES of
the region. Health policy making and implementing health strategies should consider SES of regions.
Keywords :
underweight , socioeconomic status , Anthropometric measures , obesity
