[Association between duration of breastfeeding and subsequent overweight and obesity in female adolescents]

In order to prevent obesity it is essential to identify its determinants. This study aimed to assess the association between duration of breastfeeding and subsequent obesity among female adolescents in Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected on 550 female adolescents aged 15-18 years selected by multistage cluster random sampling from Najafabad high schools. Anthropometric measurements were made and the body mass index [BMI] was calculated. Information on duration of breastfeeding and other required variables was collected by interviewing parents using questionnaires. Overweight and obesity were defined on the basis of TOTF cut-points. The mean [ +/- SD] duration of breastfeeding was 19.7 +/- 8.1 months, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity 20.5% and 6%, respectively. Breastfeeding as such [that is, without considering its duration], was significantly associated with a reduced risk of overweight or obesity [25.8% for breastfed, vs 50% for non-breastfed, adolescent, P = 0.02]. However, no statistically significant association was found between duration of breastfeeding and either overweight or obesity in the subjects [r= -0.007, P=0.87]. Our findings indicate that breastfeeding may reduce subsequent risk of obesity and overweight in female adolescents, although we found no association between duration of breastfeeding and adolescent overweight or obesity

Comparison of night time sleep quality in type 2 diabetics, impaired glucose tolerance cases and non-diabetics

Since sleeplessness and oversleeping are known to have adverse effects on human health, this study designed to compare sleep quality among non diabetic persons, those with impaired fast blood glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance and diabetics. In a cross sectional study, 834 participants including 384 diabetics, 245 subjects with impaired fast blood glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance and 205 healthy persons were studied, and data was collected using standardized questionnaires and laboratory assessments. MANCOVA test was conducted to analyze the data using SPSS version 16. Of the participants, 73% were women. MeanlSDs of age and BMI were 48.4 +/- 8.6 years and 29.2 +/- 4.5, respectively. Mean +/- SD for sleep qualities were 6.513.6 in diabetics and 5.813.3 in the others. Sleep disturbance score was meaningfully related to sex, age, educational levels, depression score, and glycosilated hemoglobin. Sleep disturbances in diabetics, especially women were more prominent than non-diabetics and significantly related to depression scores. Sleep hygiene and mental status, depression in particular, play crucial roles in diabetics and diabetes-prone individuals