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Relationship between dietary calcium intake and adiposity in female adolescents

Abstract:

Background and objective: The prevalence and magnitude of obesity in children and adolescents increase rapidly. Besides genetic and environmental factors, calcium intake has recently been identified as a dietary factor that is inversely related with body mass index and development of overweight and obesity. The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between dietary calcium intake and body mass index and fat distribution in female adolescents. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study where anthropometric variables (weight, height, body mass index, waist and hip circumference) were collected in 244 female adolescents to establish total body adiposity and fat distribution. A 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire were used to assess total calorie, calcium, and dairy products intake. Results: Calcium intake was inversely related to body mass index (P < .05), waist circumference(P < .05), hip circumference (P > .05), and waist to hip ratio (P < .05).Overweight (8.3%) and obese (0.7%) adolescents had a lower mean calcium intake than adolescents of normal weight (P = .06). Conclusions: Dietary calcium intake and, to a lesser extent, consumption of dairy products are inversely related to total and abdominal adiposity, and also to the prevalence of overweight in this group of adolescents.