Difference in dietary intake and activity level between normal-weight and overweight or obese adolescents.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an adolescent group representative of a rural Mediterranean area and to determine possible associations with energy and nutrient intakes and levels of physical exercise.


METHODS
A representative sample of adolescents was drawn from the secondary school of Torre Pacheco (Murcia), a rural Mediterranean area located in the southeast of Spain. The population selected (331 adolescents aged 14-18 years), was divided into two groups: normal-weight subjects with a body mass index less than 23 kg/m2 and overweight or obese subjects with a body mass index of 23 kg/m2 or more. Weight, height, abdominal and hip perimeters, triceps skinfold, and upper arm circumference were measured. A prospective 7-consecutive-days food record and physical activity questionnaire were completed.


RESULTS
Overweight boys and girls had an apparently lower energy intake (P = 0.001 and P = 0.042, respectively), and carbohydrate intake (P = 0.000, P = 0.032) than their normal-weight counterparts, but they tended to underreport more often. Overweight boys derived a greater percentage of their energy from fat (P = 0.049) and less from carbohydrate (P = 0.016) than their normal-weight counterparts. Among girls, the percentage of energy derived from fat increased with body mass index (r = 0.210, P = 0.008), whereas fiber intake decreased (r = -0.145; P = 0.041). Overweight and obesity were negatively related to physical activity level only among boys (P = 0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adolescent population studied (48.2% in boys and 30.7% in girls). The study shows an association between overweight and obesity and nutrient intake and activity level.
Garaulet
M
M
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, Spain.
Martínez
A
A
Victoria
F
F
Pérez-Llamas
F
F
Ortega
R M
RM
Zamora
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D009765:Obesity