TY - JOUR
TI - The double burden of obesity and iron deficiency on children and
adolescents in Greece: the Healthy Growth Study
AU - Manios, Y.
AU - Moschonis, G.
AU - Chrousos, G. P.
AU - Lionis, C. and
AU - Mougios, V.
AU - Kantilafti, M.
AU - Tzotzola, V.
AU - Skenderi, K. P. and
AU - Petridou, A.
AU - Tsalis, G.
AU - Sakellaropoulou, A.
AU - Skouli, G. and
AU - Katsarou, C.
JO - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
PY - 2013
VL - 26
TODO - 5
SP - 470-478
PB - Wiley
SN - null
TODO - 10.1111/jhn.12025
TODO - adolescents; children; diet; inflammation; iron deficiency; obesity
TODO - Background: Some small cohort studies have noted that obesity co-exists
with lower serum iron levels. The present study aimed to examine the
association between being overweight and iron deficiency (ID) in a large
cohort of Greek children and adolescents.
Methods: A representative sample of 2492 primary schoolchildren aged
9-13 years old was examined. Anthropometric, biochemical, clinical,
dietary intake and physical activity data were collected.
Results: The prevalence of ID and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was
higher in obese boys and girls compared to their normal-weight peers (P
< 0.05). Serum ferritin was higher in obese compared to normal-weight
boys (P = 0.024) and higher in obese compared to normal-weight and
overweight girls (P = 0.001). By contrast, a negative association was
found between transferrin saturation and adiposity in both boys and
girls (P = 0.001 and P = 0.005). Furthermore, obese girls had
significantly higher fibre intake than normal-weight girls (P = 0.048)
and also overweight and obese boys and girls recorded significantly
fewer pedometer steps than their normal-weight peers (P < 0.001).
Finally, obesity more than doubled the likelihood of ID in both boys
(odds ratio = 2.83; 95% confidence inteval = 1.65-4.85) and girls (odds
ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.08-3.81) after controlling
for certain lifestyle and clinical indices as potential confounders.
Conclusions: The present study shows that obese children and adolescents
were at greater risk for ID and IDA than their normal-weight peers. Low
grade inflammation induced by excessive adiposity may be a reason for
the observed low iron levels. This is also strengthened by the elevated
serum ferritin levels, comprising an acute phase protein that is
plausibly increased in inflammation.
ER -