[Association between nuts consumption and abdominal obesity, overweight and obesity in female adolescents: an epidemiological study]

ABSTRACT

Nuts are one of the most healthy food groups, but due to their fat content and high energy density their consumption is mostly restricted for weight control. The aim of this study was to assess the association between nuts consumption and abdominal obesity, overweight and obesity. 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 obtained using standard methods. Intakes of nuts and other food groups were evaluated by a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ] questionnaire. Other required variables were collected by general questionnaires. Abdominal obesity was defined on basis of the 75[th] Waist circumference percentiles for Iranian children and adolescents. Overweight and obesity were defined on the basis of International Obesity Task Force [IOTF] cut-points. The prevalence of abdominal obesity and overweight or obesity were 48.9 and 25.7 percent respectively. Mean and median intakes of nuts in this community were 22.36 and 10.35 gr/day respectively. After controlling for potential confounders, the subjects in the top quartile of nut consumption were less likely to have overweight and obesity [odds ratio [OR]0.25; 95% Cl 0.11-0.54] and abdominal obesity [OR 0.54; 95% Cl, 0.28-1.03], compared to those in the lowest quartile. Consumption of nuts was associated with lower risk of abdominal obesity, overweight and obesity. The results of this study suggest that incorporating nuts into diets might help weight control