Background : With respect to the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and their related risk factors, obesity and abdominal obesity, among Iranians, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity and their association with diet pattern of male adolescent in Tabriz .

 Materials and methods : 341 male adolescent aged 14-16 years were randomly selected through a cluster sampling in Tabriz high schools. Anthropometric indices including weight, height, and waist and hip circumference were measured. According to the NHANES- I criteria, BMI ³ 85 was considered as overweight/obese and BMI<15 as underweight. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) at or above the 85^th percentile was considered as abdominal obesity. Food intake pattern was assessed using a 24-hour food recall questionnaire. Underreporting of energy intake was also assessed.

Results : The mean weight of the subjects was above the 50^th percentile of NCHS; however, their height was in accordance with the 50^th percentile. The mean of weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences increased with advanced age. Based on NHANES-I criteria, underweight was found in 12%, overweight/obese in 20% and abdominal obesity in 16%. There was a significant difference between the overweight/obese and underweight subjects regarding the energy intake (3154±738 vs. 2072±482 kcal/day), percent of energy derived from lipid (31±7 vs. 17±3) and saturated fatty acid (14±4 vs. 7±1 gr/d) (p<0.05). The overweight/obese subjects have also diminished the break fast more commonly than the other group (p<0.05). BMI showed a positive correlation with energy (r=0.2, p<0.05) and lipid (r=0.25, p<0.01) but an inverse association with fiber (r=-0.02, p<0.05). Carbohydrate showed a positive correlation with WHR (r=0.2, p=0.04).

Conclusion : High prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents and further intake of energy and lipid in the affected subjects necessitate an educative program dealing with the complications of obesity.