title: Metabolic indices, energy and macronutrient intake according to weight status in a rural sample of 17-year-old adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With adolescent health a priority on the WHO agenda, research into the diet, weight status and metabolic profile of adolescents is indicated. The present study aimed to assess the diet and metabolic parameters of a rural sample of adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred adolescents (17 years of age) were recruited from schools in Nea Madytos, Thessaloniki, Greece. Two previous-day food recalls were collected for each participant, and weight, height, waist circumference, serum lipids and fasting glucose levels were measured. The prevalence of underweight/overweight, central obesity, dyslipidemia and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overweight was present in half the boys (51.2%) and one-fifth of the girls (21.3%). In the total sample 7.1% were underweight and another 7.1% were diagnosed with central obesity. Boys had an increased risk of abdominal obesity (OR:1.405, CI:0.7-2.8), IFG (OR:1.200, CI:0.3-4.9) and elevated triglycerides (OR:1.514, CI:1.0-2.4) and serum cholesterol levels (OR:1.806, CI:1.1-3.1). Central obesity increased the chances of IFG (OR:8.000, CI:1.6-39.1) and doubled the prevalence of dyslipidemia (OR:2.190, CI:0.5-9.1). Under-reporting of energy was found among overweight participants and was further verified by an inverse relationship between BMI and the ratio of energy intake to energy expenditure. Adolescents identified a dietary pattern high in fats in lieu of protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespectively of their weight status, teenagers consume a high fat diet; therefore, dietary counseling, as a means of preventive medicine, should be applied to all weight categories. In addition, the prevalence of obesity in a rural sample of adolescents appears to be higher compared with the whole of Greece.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mirkopoulou
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Grammatikopoulou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerothanasi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tagka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stylianou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassapidou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D014815:Vitamins