PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN ADOLESCENTS IN BIRJAND

AbstractINTRODUCTION: This population-based study was conducted to assess the prevalenceof overweight and obesity in high schools in the city of Birjand in Khorasan Province,Eastern Iran.METHODS: In this descriptive study, we attempted to determine the prevalence ofoverweight and obesity in Iranian adolescents attending high school in Birjand in ۲۰۰۵.A sample of ۲۲۳۰ high school students (۱۱۱۵ boys and ۱۱۱۵ girls) aged ۱۵-۱۸ years wasselected via stepwise random sampling in four districts of Birjand. Overweight andobesity were defined based on the ۸۵th and ۹۵th percentiles of BMI for age, respectively,as proposed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in ۲۰۰۰.RESULTS: The overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were ۶.۱% and ۲.۳%,respectively. The prevalence of overweight was ۵% in boys and ۷.۱% in high school girls.The prevalence of obesity was ۲.۸% and ۱.۸% in high school boys and girls, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in high schools in the city ofBirjand is lower than figures reported by other studies conducted in Iran and in othercountries.Key Words: Prevalence, overweight, obesity, adolescents.