Personal and Behavioral Factors Affecting Body Mass Index in First Grade Highschool Students of Babol, Iran

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, increasing body mass index (BMI) in adolescents is a major threat for communities, and various factors can play a role in this regard. This study aimed to evaluate several personal and behavioral factors contributing to the increasing trend in BMI of students of Babol, Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 504 students, who were selected through random stratified sampling during spring 2014. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire evaluating demographic and behavioral variables including age, fast food consumption, exercise, walking, physiological puberty, and breastfeeding. The questionnaires were filled out by the students and their mothers. BMI of the students was calculated and analyzed based on the percentiles of CDC 2000 standards. FINDINGS: The mean BMI of 496 students was 21.5±4.4 kg/m 2 ; 78(15.7%) students were overweight and 71(14.3%) were obese. Mean BMI of the female students was higher than males (21.9±4.3 vs. 21.0±4.5); the mean BMI of the pubertal students was higher than those who had not reached puberty (21.9±4.3 vs. 20.5±4.3), and mean BMI of the students who owned a family car was higher than those who did not (21.6±4.2 vs. 20.9±4.3). Moreover, duration of breastfeeding (r=-0.103, p=0.021), motor vehicle ownership, consumption of fast foods and soft drinks, as well as walking had a significant relationship with BMI (p<0.05). Contrastingly, BMI did not have a significant relationship with birth order, possessing a bicycle, commuting between home and school, knowledge of computer, watching television, hours of reading, as well as parental age, education, and occupation. CONCLUSION: The results showed that some personal and social factors could increase BMI of the students.