Relationship between Physical Activity and Demographic Factors with Overweight/ Obesity among Adolescents in Yazd, Iran

Introduction: The prevalence of overweight or obesity (OW/OB) has increased dramatically through the globe and is a public health problem in many countries. Understanding the contributing factors can be helpful for effective management of this problem. The aim of present study was evaluating the relationship between physical activity and demographic factors with OW/OB among adolescents in Yazd, Iran. Material and Methods: Participants of this cross-sectional study were ۵۱۰ students aged ۱۲-۱۶ years in Yazd, Iran. The general information, anthropometric measures and indices, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behaviors (SB) (screen time (ST) and homework time (HT)) were collected by interview based on standard questionnaires. Findings: There was a high prevalence of SB ≥۲h/day (۹۷.۶%), ST ≥۲h/day (۷۰.۳%), overweight or obesity (۴۰%), abdominal obesity (۳۶.۹%), physical inactivity (۲۹.۸%) among the students. The younger age (p = ۰.۰۱۴), no access to the yard (p < ۰.۰۰۱), family size ≤ ۲ (p = ۰.۰۲۳), passive transportation (p = ۰.۰۰۱), the highest school days' HT (p = ۰.۰۳۳) and SB (p = ۰.۰۲۱), and the highest weekends' HT among the students were the risk factors for OW/OB. The highest PA level was associated with a lower risk of OW/OB (p < ۰.۰۰۱). Compared to the normal weight students, OW/OB spent more time on school days and weekdays for ST (P < ۰.۰۰۱), HT (P < ۰.۰۰۱, P = ۰.۰۰۵) and SB (P < ۰.۰۰۱), respectively. OW/OB students showed a higher weekends' ST (p < ۰.۰۰۱) and lower HT (p = ۰.۰۴۸) than normal-weight students. Conclusion: The prevalence of SB, ST, OW/OB, and physical inactivity were common. The school days and weekends' HT, the school days' SB and HT, age, PA, and access to the yard, family size, and passive transportation were related to the greater chances of OW/OB among the students.

کلیدواژه ها:

Physical activity ، demographic factors ، overweight ، obesity ، adolescents