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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Obesity | Research article

A multivariate multilevel analysis of the risk factors associated with anthropometric indices in Iranian mid-adolescents

Authors: Marzieh Alamolhoda, Seyyed Taghi Heydari, Seyyed Mohammad Taghi Ayatollahi, Reza Tabrizi, Maryam Akbari, Arash Ardalan

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The present study was conducted to jointly assess some specific factors related to body fat measures using a multivariate multilevel analysis in a representative sample of Iranian mid-adolescents.

Methods

This study was conducted among 2538 students (1286 boys) aged 14–20 years old, who were randomly selected among 16 public high schools by multi-stage random sampling procedure from all education districts of Shiraz, Iran. Data on demographic characteristics, family history of obesity, physical activity, socio-economic (SES) variables and screen time were collected. Height, weight, triceps (TST), abdominal (AST), and subscapular (SST) skinfold thickness were measured and their body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A multivariate multilevel approach was used to analyze the factors associated with obesity measures of the TST, AST, SST at the child and district levels.

Results

In this study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated to be 10.2 and 5.1%, respectively. Overall, the major portion of the total variance in TST (97.1%), AST (97.7%), and SST (97.5%) was found at the child level. The results of multivariate multilevel method revealed that being girls, having a family history of obesity, and SES were significantly associated with increasing of three body fat measures (all the p-values were less than 0.05). There were significant positive associations between moderate to vigorous physical activities with AST and SST (for AST: β =2.54, SE = 1.40, p = 0.05; for SST: β =2.24, SE = 1.20, p = 0.05). Compared to children in 14–16 age group, children in age group 16–18 years had less TST (β = − 0.67, SE = 0.34, p = 0.04). Furthermore, other age groups and screen time did not play an important role in three outcome variables.

Conclusions

The results showed some factors that contribute to three body fat measures. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective interventions to prevent the effects of individual and environmental undesirable factors on childhood obesity in both family and community levels.
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Metadata
Title
A multivariate multilevel analysis of the risk factors associated with anthropometric indices in Iranian mid-adolescents
Authors
Marzieh Alamolhoda
Seyyed Taghi Heydari
Seyyed Mohammad Taghi Ayatollahi
Reza Tabrizi
Maryam Akbari
Arash Ardalan
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02104-x

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