title: A comparative study of nutritional status and foodstuffs in adolescent girls in iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents is increasing world-wide. Obesity in children and adolescents is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, and cancer in adulthood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional status and food-stuffs among high-school girls in Arak, Iran, in matter of body mass index (BMI) and associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 278 adolescents was conducted in six randomly chosen high-schools. Height and weight of students were collected using standard methods and the BMI calculated and BMI percentiles of these girls are compared with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference data. The 5(th), 8(th), and 95(th) percentiles of the CDC were adopted as cut-off points for underweight, overweight and obese girls, respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS by analysis of variance and Chi-square tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of CDC, the overall prevalence rates of underweight, overweight, and obesity were estimated 10.1% (28/278), 12.9% (36/278), and 1.4% (4/278), respectively. There was no significant difference between nutritional knowledge scores and the rate of physical activities in various groups. The mean age at menarche was significantly higher among the obese girls (P = 0.02). Consumption of ice-cream and chocolate was significantly higher in the obese girls group (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the present study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in high-school girls of Arak is lower than that of many other parts of Iran and some neighboring countries, which are at the high-risk of overweight and obesity. This study warrants the necessity of paying attention to promote healthy life-style and weight control. The earlier age of menarche is alarming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition, Islamic Azad University of Arak, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talaie-Zanjani
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faraji
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafie
authors.affiliation: Health Policy and Promotion Research Center Department of Epidemiology, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadbeigi
keywords: Adolescent; Age at menarche; Body mass index; Nutritional knowledge; Nutritional status; Physical activity