[Consumptions of Meat, Dietary Fat, and Fatty-acids and Prevalence of Overweight/Obesity in Children and Adolescents-a Cross-sectional Survey in Chengdu]

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 7-15 years in Longquanyi District of Chengdu and its association with consumptions of meat, dietary fat and fatty-acids.

Methods: A total of 1 811 children and adolescents aged 7-15 years in Longquanyi District were selected using stratified cluster sampling strategy. Their body mass, height and waist circumference were measured. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was estimated based on body mass index (BMI), body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Daily consumptions of meat, dietary fat and fatty-acids were calculated using data collected through a food frequency questionnaire and 3-d 24 h dietary recall. The children with overweight/obesity were compared with those with normal body mass in food/nutrient consumptions using Wilcoxon tests. The BMI SDS, WHtR, and prevalence of overweight and obesity were also compared between those having low, moderate and high food/nutrient consumptions using Chi-square tests or Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Results: About 10.34% and 6.59% of participants were found to be overweight and obese, respectively. Boys had higher prevalence of overweight (12.05%) and overweight/obesity (18.97%) than girls (8.55%, 14.80%) ( P<0.05). Girls consumed more meat (including red meat and white meat), saturated fatty-acid (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty-acid (MUFA) than boys ( P<0.05). The consumptions of meat (both red meat and white meat), SFA and MUFA increased with age ( P<0.05). Overweight/obese girls consumed more SFA, MUFA and fat (%EN) than those of normal weight. The BMI SDS and WHtR of girls increased with fat (%EN) consumptions ( P<0.05). The BMI SDS of girls also increased with MUFA consumptions ( P<0.05).

Conclusions: Consumptions of red meat, dietary fat, SFA, and MUFA are associated with overweight/obesity of girls aged 7-15 years in Chengdu. Further studies are needed to understand the gender differences.