[Prevalence of obesity and some associated factors among 8-12 year old boy students in Shiraz]

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obesity and some associated factors among boy students, aged 8 to 12 years in Shiraz. This cross-sectional study was performed on 478 [male] students, 8-12 years old. The subjects were selected via a step wise random sampling. Height and weight of the subjects were measured by standard methods and body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Overweight and obesity were defined based on the 85th and 95th percentiles of BMI for age and sex, respectively, as proposed by Center for Disease Control [CDC]. Physical fitness level and family conditions were collected by a standard Baecke questionnaire. The prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight in 8-12 year old students were 7.1%, 11.9% and 14.8% respectively. Results showed that there were inverse relationships between BMI and age and the parent's education [P<0.05]. On the other hand, although BMI had positive associations with the time spent watching TV, fast food consumption, time spent on exercise and walking during a week, they were not achieve statistically significant. The lower the level of parent's education, the more the increase in student's BMI, findings which emphasize the need for awareness about childhood obesity complications among parents

[ relationship between obesity, overweight and demographic factors with physical activity in 18-69 year-old adults in Rasht city]

Considering the importance of obesity and lifestyle behaviors, especially physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of obesity, overweight and some demographic factors with physical activity in adults of Rasht city. Two hundred men [mean +/- SD: 40.27 +/- 13.6 years] and 200 women [mean +/- SD: 40.41 +/- 12.3 years] 0 participated in this study. Anthropometric data including weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and body mass index [BMI] were obtained using standard methods. Physical activity level was measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]. Of subjects, 13.5, 43 and 43.5% had low, medium and high, social / economic conditions, respectively. The lowest percentage of subjects were labourers [1.5%] and the highest [37.5%] were self-employed. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity were 52%, 23.5% and 47.75%, respectively [men 54%, 14.5% and 25.5%; women 50%, 32.5% and 56%]. The prevalence of obesity increased with age [P<0.05]. The obese subjects had lowest levels of physical activity. Physical activity levels including walking, moderate and high activity were 59.5, 22.5 and 11.5% and 66.5, 14, 7% among men and women, respectively. The others did not perform any physical activity. Physical activity had an inverse relationship with overweight, obesity and central obesity [P<0.05]. Low level of physical activity is one of the causes of obesity and overweigt, indicating that level of physical activity in men and women is highly recommended for these individuals