Dietary Intakes of Adolescent Girls in Relation To Weight Status

Background: to examine macronutrient and micronutrient intake of adolescent girls of tehran, capital of iran to discoverany malnutrition in relation to weight status and dieting.methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted. four hundred 11- to 17-year-old students were selected by multistagecluster sampling from secondary and high schools of tehran. the information about dietary intakes was taken by food frequencyquestionnaire and 24-hour recall form. the students’ body mass indices (bmis) were measured and were classifiedaccording to national center for health statistics /center for disease control and prevention (2000) growth charts. participantswere also questioned about body image and dieting.results: 6.7% of adolescent girls were classified as being obese, 14.6% overweight, 75.4% normal and 3.2% underweight.students 11-13 year old, had mean intakes lower than estimated average requirement (ear) for folic acid, vitamin e, calcium,magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, and 14-18 year old students had mean intakes lower than ear forniacin, pyridoxine, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamin e, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc.obese and overweight adolescents had less carbohydrate, thiamin, niacin, iron and selenium intake. the participants, whowere dieting, used significantly less amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, thiamin, niacin, iron, selenium, sodium and zinc.conclusion: knowing the harmful consequences of nutrient deficiency especially in adolescents, nutrition education mustbe emphasized in schools to promote nutritional literacy.