[Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among adolescent girls in Rafsanjan, 2007]

ABSTRACT

Obesity is the most common cause of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome [MS]. These are the most important risk factors for CHD. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, the two most important risk factors for CHD, in adolescent girls in Rafsanjan. In this cross sectional study 1221 respondents were randomly selected using a multiphase sampling method. The individual questionnaire was completed after receiving a written consent form. The weight, height, waist circumference [WC] and blood pressure were measured using standard equipments. Five ml blood sample were taken for measuring TG, HDL-C and FBS of the obese volunteer after detecting obese subjects [n=76]. We determined MS according to the latest ATP3 criteria. Mean age of respondents was 14.3 + 1.7 years, and 11.2% [95% CI = 9.4% -12.9% and 2.4% [95% CI = 1.5% -3.3%] of subjects were overweight and obese respectively. Based on our findings about 1.2% [95% CI= 0.6%-1.8%] of respondents counted as abdominal obesity. According to ATPIII criteria 3.9% [CI 95% = 2.8% -5%] of respondents encounter with MS. This study showed high prevalence obesity and metabolic syndrome among adolescent girls of Rafsanjan. Therefore researchers suggest screening test also for children aged 6-11 years .The results will help with planning to control the problem in the future