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Background Recent studies have discussed the application of wrist circumference as an easy-to-use predictor of general and abdominal obesity. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the association of wrist circumference with generalized and abdominal obesity and to determine its sex- and age-specific optimal cutoff points in association with generalized and abdominal obesity in a national sample of pediatric population. Methods This nationwide survey was conducted among 14,880 students, aged 6–18 years, selected through a multistage, random cluster sampling method from rural and urban areas of 30 provinces in Iran from 2011 to 2012. Anthropometric indices (weight, height, wrist circumference, waist circumference [WC], hip circumference [HC]) were measured by standard protocols using calibrated instruments. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. By considering the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, we evaluated the association of wrist circumference with obesity indices and determined its sex- and age-specific optimal cutoff points in association with obesity. AUC: 0.5, AUC: 0.5–0.65 and AUC: 0.65–1.0 were interpreted as equal to chance, moderately and highly accurate tests, respectively. Results Overall, 13,486 children and adolescents with a mean age of 12.47±3.36 years completed the study (participation rate of 90.6%). In both genders, wrist circumference had a significant correlation with anthropometric measures including weight, height, BMI, WC, HC and WHtR. In all age groups and both genders, wrist circumference performed relatively well in classifying individuals into overweight (AUC: 0.67–0.75, p Conclusions Wrist circumference is suggested to be a useful index for assessing excess weight in the pediatric age group. Its easy measurement without the need of calculation ratios might make it as a routine measurement in daily clinical practice and in large epidemiological studies.

Background: Self-rated health and life satisfaction are two subjective measures for assessing overall health status. This study aims to investigate the association of self-rated health and life satisfaction with physical activity and screen time. Methods: As part of the fourth survey of a national surveillance program in Iran (CASPIAN-IV study), 14 880 students aged 6 to 18 years were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from 30 provinces. Data were obtained from the WHO Global School-Based Student Health Survey questionnaire. Results: A total of 13 486 students with mean age of 12.47 (SD 3.36) completed the study. In crude model both prolonged screen time and physical activity were associated with favorable life satisfaction and selfrated health. However, in multivariate analysis only high physical activity was associated with good self-rated health (OR 1.37) and life satisfaction (OR 1.39), while prolonged screen time was not associated with good self-rated health (OR 1.02) and life satisfaction (OR 0.94). For combined screen time-physical activity variable, low screen time-high physical activity combination had the highest OR for both good self-rated health (OR 1.37) and life satisfaction (OR 1.43) in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increasing physical activity is more crucial than emphasizing reducing screen time in improving the well-being of children and adolescents. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved.

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept with significant effects and children and adolescence; while physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) have been suggested as its probable predictors. Present study aims to investigate the association of PA, ST and their combination, with HRQoL in a nationally-representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents. Methods As for the estimated sample size, 25,000 students aged 6–18 years were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from 30 provinces of Iran. Sociodemographic data was obtained by using the questionnaire of the World Health Organization-Global school based student health survey (GSHS). Persian Pediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQL) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for the pediatric age group (PAQ-A) were applied for evaluating HRQoL and PA, respectively. PA scores 1–1.9 and 2–5 were respectively considered as low and high PA. The average duration of time spent on watching TV and leisure time computer use were considered as ST behaviors. ST of less than 2 h was considered low. Results Out of 25,000 invited individuals, 23,043 students (mean age: 12.5) completed the study (response rate: 92.17%). In linear regression models, ST duration had significant inverse association with total QoL (β: − 0.49, p

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the association of neck circumference (NC) with obesity to determine the sex-specific and age-specific optimal cut-off points of this measure in association with obesity in a national sample of the Iranian paediatric population. Methods This survey on weight disorders was conducted among a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents, aged 6–18 years. Using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic curves, we evaluated the association of NC with general and abdominal obesity. Results This national survey was conducted among 23 043 school students (50.8% boys) with a mean age (SD) of 12.55 (3.31) years. A significant association was documented between NC and other anthropometric measures in both sexes and in the whole population. In all age groups and genders, NC performed relatively well in classifying participants to overweight (AUC: 0.67 to 0.75, p

BACKGROUND This study aims to evaluate the association of consuming healthy foods with anthropometric measures and blood pressure (BP) in a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS This nationwide study was conducted in 2011-2012 among 13,486 students, aged 6-18 years, selected by multistage cluster sampling from 30 provinces. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), wais to height ratio (WHtR), waist to hip ratio (WHR), as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP) were measured. Healthy foods were considered as four categories including fresh fruits, dried fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The frequency consumption of each of these foods was recorded as daily, weekly, and seldom. RESULTS The intake of fruits was significantly associated with anthropometric indices. Moreover, a significant association was found between vegetables consumption, DBP levels, and anthropometric indices (except for WHtR and WHR). Milk consumption was significantly associated with anthropometric indices (except for WHtR and WHR). The odds of general obesity among participants who seldom consumed dried fruits was less than those who consumed daily (OR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.74-0.96). We did not find any significant association for the frequency of fresh fruits and vegetables consumption with obesity, abdominal obesity, DBP and SBP. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of dried fruits was associated with general obesity in children and adolescents. These results highlight the effect of dietary quality and food choices on weight control in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND Although many public health programs have focused on prevention and control of obesity, their efficacy mostly depends on personal factors including perception of weight and personal understanding of the concept of being overweight. This study aims to investigate the association of adolescent's weight status with life satisfaction and explore the role of self, peers, family and school perception in this association. METHODS Data were obtained from the fourth school-based survey entitled "Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-communicable Disease" (CASPIAN) Study. This survey was conducted among 14,880 urban and rural students aged 6-18 years. Two sets of valid and reliable questionnaire obtained from Global School Health Survey (GSHS) were completed by students and their parents. The students' questionnaire had several questions including life satisfaction and the perception of weight, peers, family and school. RESULTS The study had a participation rate of 90.6% including 50.8% boys and 76% urban residents. Significant differences existed in Body Mass Index (BMI) and in perception of weight among girls and boys. Moreover, the prevalence of depression and being bullied were higher among girls and boys, respectively. Significant association was documented between life satisfaction and all variables including perception of weight, peers, family and school; the only exception was for BMI (P

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its contributing factors are considered important health problems in the pediatric age group. This study was designed to assess the joint association of ST and PA with cardiometabolic risk factors among Iranian adolescents. A representative sample of 5625 (50.2% boys) school students with a mean age of 14.73 (SD: 2.41) were selected through multistage random cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of 27 provinces in Iran. ST and PA were assessed by self-administered validated questionnaires. Anthropometric measures (height, weight and waist circumference (WC)) and MetS components (abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure (BP), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated triglycerides (TG) and high fasting blood sugar (FBG)) were measured according to standardized protocols. MetS was defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria modified for the pediatric age group. Moreover, elevated total cholesterol (TC), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and generalized obesity were considered as other cardiometabolic risk factors. Students with high ST levels had significantly higher body mass index z-score (BMI z-score), WC, TG, LDL-C, and BP as well as lower HDL-C level; whereas those with high PA levels had significantly higher HDL-C levels as well as lower BMI z-score, TC, and BP. Adolescents with low PA/ high ST levels had significantly higher BMI, WC, LDL-C levels, as well as higher SBP and DBP compared to their other counterparts. In Multivariate model, joint effect of low PA/ high ST (compared to the high PA/low ST group) increased the odds of overweight, abdominal obesity and low HDL-C and decreased the odds of elevated TC. The findings of this study showed that joint association of high ST and low PA have direct association with abdominal obesity, overweight and low HDL-C and indirect association with elevated TC.