The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between dietary calcium intake and body mass index and fat distribution in female adolescents.
This was a cross-sectional study where anthropometric variables (weight, height, body mass index, waist and hip circumference) were collected in 244 female adolescents to establish total body adiposity and fat distribution. A 24-h recall and a food frequency questionnaire were used to assess total calorie, calcium, and dairy products intake.
Calcium intake was inversely related to body mass index (p < .05), waist circumference (p < .05), hip circumference (p > .05), and waist to hip ratio (p < .05).Overweight (8.3%) and obese (0.7%) adolescents had a lower mean calcium intake than adolescents of normal weight (p = .06).
Dietary calcium intake and, to a lesser extent, consumption of dairy products are inversely related to total and abdominal adiposity, and also to the prevalence of overweight in this group of adolescents.