Prevalence of and risk factors for overweight and obesity among adolescents in Morocco

Background: Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents is a major public health concern and their prevalence is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate in both developing and developed countries.

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a representative sample of 12–18-year-old schooled adolescents in Fez, Morocco, and to investigate the possible risk factors associated with adolescent obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2014 and March 2015 in public secondary schools. Data were collected from a questionnaire. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Weight was classified according to the reference curves of WHO [2007]. Data on 1818 adolescents aged 12–18 years were used.

Results: The prevalence of overweight was 7.69% and that of obesity was 3.41%. Overweight and obesity in adolescents were positively correlated to having a father [odds ratio [OR] = 1.58, P = 0.008] or a mother with higher education [OR = 1.56, P = 0.009]. High family income [OR = 2.115, P = 0.028], motorized transport to school [adjusted OR = 1.77, P = 0.017], using a computer for > 4 h/day [OR: 2.56, P = 0.004] and frequent consumption of soda and soft drinks [OR = 1.42, P = 0.04] were also correlated with an increased risk for overweight and obesity.

Conclusions: This study provides useful findings that could be elaborated on and expanded in studies on overweight and obesity among adolescents in Morocco

Evaluation of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of aqueous extract of Cistus ladaniferus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective To evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cistus ladaniferus (C. ladaniferus) on glycemic and lipidemic status in diabetic rats. Methods Overnight fasted rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (45 mg/kg) to induce experimental diabetes. The aqueous extract of the leaves of C. ladaniferus was administered orally at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight to diabetic rats for a period of 28 days. Hypoglycemic effect, body weight, oral glucose tolerance, change in lipid parameters, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels of diabetic rats treated with aqueous extract were evaluated in experimental animals. Results Administration of 500 mg/kg of C. ladaniferus extract to diabetic rats for 28 days resulted in a significant reduction in the levels of blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea and creatinine. Furthermore, the extract of C. ladaniferus improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats, and its antidiabetic effect was similar to the one obtained with glibenclamide. The hypolipidemic effect was demonstrated by an important decrease in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Conclusions It is concluded that C. ladaniferus leaf extract showed an antidiabetic activity in experimental diabetes which was similar to the one obtained with glibenclamide.