Association Between Junk Food Consumption and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in a National Sample of Iranian Children and Adolescents Population: The Caspian-V Study Publisher Pubmed



Azemati B^{1, 2} ; Kelishadi R³ ; Ahadi Z¹ ; Shafiee G¹ ; Taheri MZ⁴ ; Ziaodini H⁵ ; Qorbani M^{6, 7} ; Heshmat R¹
Source: Eating and Weight Disorders Published:2020

Abstract

Aims: Only a few studies have attempted to assess the relationship between junk food consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in Iranian children and adolescents; therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the association between junk food intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in this population. Study design: This is a cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 14,400 students were selected from 30 provinces of Iran using multistage, stratified cluster sampling method. Information about student’s lifestyle, health behaviors and health status was obtained through a validated questionnaire. Blood pressure was measured and anthropometric indices were calculated. Blood samples were drawn from 3,303 students for biochemical tests. In our study, sugar-sweetened beverages, salty snacks, sweets and fast foods were considered as junk foods. Results: The mean age of participants was 12.42 ± 2.97 years. Those with metabolic syndrome were more likely to live in urban areas (P = 0.004) and have higher BMI (P < 0.0001). Junk food intake was not related to metabolic syndrome; however, it was associated with increased odds of high BP (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09, 1.39), high SBP (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09, 1.75), and high DBP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04, 1.35), overweight (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08, 1.39) and excess weight (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04, 1.25). Conclusions: Junk food consumption plays an important role in childhood overweight and is related to high blood pressure in this population. Level of evidence: Level III, case-control analytic studies. © 2018, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.