Evaluation of Anthropometric features in adolescent girls of RafsanjanIran - 2007

Introduction: Anthropometric measures are the most frequently tools for assessing both nutritional and public health status. These indexes help recognizing individuals who are at risk of obesity and underweight. Appropriate interventional approaches could then be achieved. The present study aims to evaluate nutritional status of adolescent girls (11-18 years) in Rafsanjan using anthropometric indexes. Methods: In this cross sectional study 1221 adolescent girls were randomly selected using a multiphase sampling method. Study checklist was completed after receiving a written consent form in a face-to-face interview. The weight height and waist circumference (WC) were measured by standard scale tape accurately. BMI was calculated based on the weight height and obesity as well as overweight was defined based on BMI scores using CDC chart. Abdominal obesity was also detected based on WC percentile for age. Data were analyzed using SPSS-12 software and Chi-square tests and Pearson correlation coefficient are used where appropriate. Results: Mean age of respondents was 14.3±1.7 years and 11.2% and 2.4% of subjects were overweight and obese respectively. Our findings showed that 11.3% were malnourished. The proportion of respondents with overweight and obesity in the two groups of secondary and high school pupils were significantly different (P