Risk factors for overweight in urban and rural school girls in Iran: Skipping breakfast and early menarche

This study aimed to investigate the predictors of overweight among Iranian 14–17 years adolescent girls in urban and rural areas in Guilan, Iran. Between December 2005 and March 2006 a cross-sectional survey on 2090 high-school girls (1054 in urban and 1036 in rural areas) in Guilan, northern Iran was performed. Data on age, mother's education, age at menarche, physical activity, hours of TV viewing, birth weight, duration of any breast feeding and skipping breakfast were collected using questionnaire and body weight and height of the girls were measured. Logistic regression analysis showed that in urban residents, low age group (14 years) OR = 13.9 (1.15–1.61), lower menarcheal age OR = 0.76 (0.61–0.95) and skipping breakfast OR = 1.96 (1.52–2.35) were independently related to overweight and obesity. In rural residents, low menarcheal age, OR = 0.82 (0.69–0.98), skipping breakfast OR = 2.23 (1.37–3.65), and high maternal education OR = 2.01 (1.62–2.85) were predictors of overweight/obesity. In conclusion, these data indicated that skipping breakfast is a potential risk factor for overweight/obesity in both urban and rural girls. High maternal education as a risk factor for overweight in the rural girls is notable.