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. CONCLUSION 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.