Potato consumption as high glycemic index food, blood pressure, and body mass index among Iranian adolescent girls.
BACKGROUND
Potato as a high glycemic index food has different effects on healthy nutritional status. In the current study, we investigated the association between potato consumption and obesity and blood pressure among adolescent girls.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 205 girls (11-13 years old) in 2013 who were selected by systematic cluster random sampling from schools of all regions of Isfahan, Iran. Dietary intakes were collected by 53-items food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were done based on a standard protocol.


RESULTS
Adolescents that consumed all kinds of potato more than once per week had significantly higher prevalence of overweight and obesity (prevalence of overweight and obesity was 86.7 and 13.3%; P < 0.0010 in more than once per week and less than once per week groups, respectively) as well as prevalence of abdominal obesity in more than once per week consumption group was higher than less than once per week consumption group (78.2 vs. 21.8%; P < 0.001). Potato consumption (as independent variables) increased body mass index and waist circumference (as dependent variables) in crude and adjusted regression models (P < 0.050). Mean blood pressure was not significantly different among lower and higher potato consumers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested a positive association between potato consumption and obesity. We did not find any association between potato consumption and blood pressure in adolescents.
Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Motahar
M
Heidari-Beni
Associate Professor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Jafar
J
Golshahi
Associate Professor, Food Security Research Center AND Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition & Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Ahmad
A
Esmaillzadeh
Associate Professor, Food Security Research Center AND Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition & Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Leila
L
Azadbakht
Adolescence; Blood Pressure; Obesity; Potato