[ association of myopia and overweight in elementary school children: a case- control study in Islamshahr, Iran]

ABSTRACT

Increasing in prevalence of juvenile myopia in recent decades in eastern and western countries, especially in urban elementary school children, suggests that changing in early life style may play an important role in development of myopia. Our aim was to determine the relationships between myopia and overweight in elementary school children of Eslamshahr a city near Tehran, Iran. In a case control study, 240 new myopic primary school children [grade 2-4] identified as cases and 240 children without myopia in the same schools enrolled as control group. Anthropometric information was completed from schools'. Other information about pre-entrancing to school was collected by interviewing their parents. Children having a Body mass index BMI>=85th CDC2000 percentile were identified as overweight. Adjusted odds ratio for overweight was estimated after adjusting other potential risk factors. Of total 53.3% were girls. 23.8% of children in case group and 10.1% of them in control group were categorized in overweight group. After adjusting for other potential risk factors [family history, breast milk intake, near works, mother's job and financial position] being overweight was independently associated to myopia [OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.9-5.03]. It is concluded that overweight in children in preschool age, is independently associated with increased risk of myopia in primary school children. Therefore health promotion programs in order to change of the life style in this group of children should be considered