Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in adolescent girls in south east of Iran

ABSTRACT

Obesity is the most common cause of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome [MetS]. These are the most important risk factors for Coronary Heart Disease [CHD]. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome [Mets] in adolescent girls in Rafsanjan, Iran. In this cross sectional study 1221 respondents were randomly selected using a multiphase sampling method. The individual questionnaire was completed after receiving a written informed consent. The weight, height, Waist Circumference [WC] and blood pressure were measured using standard equipments. Five milliliters blood were taken for measuring TG, HDL CHO and FBS of the obese volunteers after detecting obesity [n=76]. We determined metabolic syndrome according to the earlier Adult Treatment Panel III [ATPIII] criteria. Mean age of respondents was 14.3 +/- 1.7 years and 11.2% [95% CI = 9.4% -12.9%] and 2.4% [95% Cl = 1.5% - 3.3%] of subjects were overweight and obese respectively. Based on our finding about 1.2% [95% CI= 0.6% - 1.8%] respondents had abdominal obesity. According to ATPIII criteria 3.9% [C195% = 2.8% - 5%] of respondents had metabolic syndrome. This study showed high prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome among girls studying in secondary and high schools of Rafsanjan. We suggest screening programme for children aged 6-11 years as the result will help in planning to control obesity and metabolic syndrome