High Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in Iranian Adolescents

OBJECTIVE: No evidence exists regarding the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in adolescents in Middle Eastern countries. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in a representative sample of Iranian adolescents. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Anthropometry, biochemical measurements, and blood pressure were assessed in a population-based cross-sectional study of 3036 Iranian adolescents (1413 boys and 1623 girls) 10 to 19 years of age. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to modified Adult Treatment Panel III definition. Overweight (> or = 95th percentile) and at risk for overweight (> or = 85th to < 95th percentile) was defined based on the standardized percentile curves of BMI suggested for Iranian adolescents. RESULTS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 10.1% (95% confidence interval: 9.0 to 11.1) among Iranian adolescents (boys: 10.3%, 8.6 to 11.8; girls: 9.9%, 8.4 to 11.3). Overall, low serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and high serum triglycerides were the most common components of the metabolic syndrome (42.8% and 37.5%, respectively). Overweight subjects had the highest proportion of metabolic syndrome compared with those at risk for overweight and those with normal weight (boys: 41.1% vs. 11.4% and 3.0%, respectively, p < 0.01; girls: 43% vs. 15.2% and 5.0%, respectively, p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: This study provides evidence showing a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Iranian adolescents, particularly among overweight adolescents.