. Sahar Saraf Bank; . Naeimeh Ghanjali; . Reihaneh Seyyed Ghalaeh; . Leila Azadbakht
Volume 3, Issue 3 , March 2013, , Pages 1-6
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, obesity is considered a worldwide problem. Although genetics isone of the factors associated with obesity, its predisposing factors include nutritional andenvironmental ...
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Background: Nowadays, obesity is considered a worldwide problem. Although genetics isone of the factors associated with obesity, its predisposing factors include nutritional andenvironmental factors. Several studies have addressed the relationship between nutritionalfactors and general and central adiposity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determinethe relationship between the consumption of dairy products and prevalence of obesity andcentral obesity in young female university students at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 236 healthy femaleuniversity students in the age range of 18 and 30 years who were selected randomly fromamong the students at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A previously validatedsemiquantitative food questionnaire was used to assess their entire dietary component intake.Physical activity was evaluated by recording daily physical activities. Findings: The prevalenceof obesity, central adiposity, and excess weight was 1.7, 0.9, and 8.1%, respectively. The meanvalues of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were 21.54 kg/m2 and 70.37 cm,respectively. Moreover, the mean value of dairy product consumption was 444.24 g/day. Theresults showed no significant relationship between dairy or calcium intake and weight and waistcircumference as well as prevalence of obesity, central adiposity, and excess weight (P>0.05).Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between the consumption of dairy productsand calcium intake and excess weight, obesity, and central adiposity among female universitystudents. However, this study is important in that the prevalence of obesity, central adiposity,and excess weight along with the mean values of BMI and waist circumference are reported.
