Factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in a national sample of youths: CASPIAN Study.
OBJECTIVE
To date, research on the influence of environmental factors on metabolic syndrome (MS) among youths is limited. This study was conducted to investigate for the first time the association of these factors with MS in a large national, representative sample of children from a non-Western population.


RESULTS
The study population comprised of 4811 students (2248 boys and 2563 girls) aged 6-18 years, living in six different provinces in Iran. MS, defined based on criteria analogous to those of the Adult Treatment Panel III, was detected in 14.1% of participants. A birth weight of >4000 g in boys and <2500 g in girls increased the risk of having the MS [OR, 95% CI: 1.4 (1.007, 2.05) and 1.2 (1.1, 1.4), respectively]. Poorly educated parents and a positive parental history of chronic disease were other risks factors associated with MS. Low levels of physical activity significantly increased the risk of having MS [boys: 1.3 (1.1, 1.7); girls: 1.4 (1.2, 1.6)]. The risk of MS increased in-line with the consumption of solid hydrogenated fat [boys: 1.2 (1.07, 1.3); girls, 1.3 (1.1, 1.5)] and bread made with white flour [boys: 1.6 (1.3, 2.1); girls, 1.4 (1.1, 1.7)]. In contrast, an increased frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetable, as well as dairy products decreased the risk of having MS.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the effect of modifiable lifestyle habits and birth weight on MS in youths, urgent public health approaches should be directed towards primordial and primary prevention of this rapidly growing problem.
Kelishadi
Roya
R
Preventive Paediatric Cardiology Department, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre (WHO Collaborating Centre in EMR), Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 81465-1148, Isfahan, Iran. kroya@aap.net
Gouya
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
Adeli
Khosrow
K
Ardalan
Gelayol
G
Gheiratmand
Riaz
R
Majdzadeh
Reza
R
Mahmoud-Arabi
Minou Sadat
MS
Delavari
Alireza
A
Riazi
Mohammad Mehdi
MM
Barekati
Hamed
H
Motaghian
Molouk
M
Shariatinejad
Keivan
K
Heshmat
Ramin
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001939:Bread; D002648:Child; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014675:Vegetables
D004041:Dietary Fats