Overweight, obesity, and associated factors in 14-18-year-old adolescents of Shiraz, Iran

Objective: This paper examines the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among 14-18-year-old adolescents of Shiraz, Iran. Methods: Using multistage random sampling, we recruited 289 male and 249 female adolescents. Daily physical activity, calorie intake, and other important information were obtained using 24-hour recall of physical activities (on two days), a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and a self-administered questionnaire. Height, weight, and BMI z-scores were measured based on standard protocols. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18% and 6.7%, respectively. Prevalence of overweight including obesity was negatively associated with socioeconomic status of school area (χ² = 6.6, p = 0.037), father’s total years of schooling (13.5% vs. 41.4% and 45.1%), supplement consumption (χ² = 6.0, p = 0.015), and the energy density of foods (χ² = 10.3, p = 0.006), but was positively associated with dietary restriction (χ² = 7.9, p = 0.005), family history of obesity (χ² = 14.8, p = 0.000), sleep duration (χ² = 14.1, p = 0.042), and body satisfaction (χ² = 13.1, p = 0.001). Socioeconomic status of school area (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.2), supplement consumption (OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.8), dietary restriction (OR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-5.8), family history of obesity (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-2.9), body satisfaction (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.1-3.4), the energy density of foods (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9), and sleep duration (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.6) contributed significantly to overweight after controlling for other variables. Conclusions: Overweight/obesity is prevalent among Iranian adolescents. Encouraging adolescents, especially those with a positive family history of obesity, to follow a more favorable lifestyle may markedly protect them against the onset of obesity and its psychosocial and physical consequences.