# Association of healthy eating index and anthropometric indices among primary school girls in southeast of Iran: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study examines the link between diet quality and body measurements in primary school girls in Iran, finding that better diets are associated with higher odds of being overweight.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the relationship between healthy eating and anthropometric indices in Iranian schoolgirls.

## Key findings

- Older participants had higher healthy eating index scores.
- Higher healthy eating index scores were associated with increased odds of being overweight.
- No significant association was found between diet quality and obesity or thinness.

## Abstract

The school-age period is marked by substantial advancements in physical and cognitive development, highlighting the importance of assessing the diet quality and its impact on body weight and height. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between diet quality and selected anthropometric indices of primary school girls in southeast of Iran using the healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015).

This cross-sectional study involved 330 students aged 6–12 years from 10 primary schools in Kerman City. Standard protocols and a dish-based food frequency questionnaire were employed to evaluate anthropometric indices and dietary intake. The HEI-2015 was utilized to assess the quality of participants’ diets, with a total score ranging from zero to 100, based on thirteen food score components.

In the present study, older participants had higher HEI scores (p = 0.02). Additionally, participants in the highest tertile of HEI score had greaterodds of being overweight (OR: 2.13; CI = 1.17–3.85, P = 0.011) and had higher intakes of whole fruits, total fruits including fruit juice, whole grains, total protein foods, seafood and plant proteins, greens, and beans (p < 0.05). However, no significant association was found between HEI score and other anthropometric indices, obesity, and thinness.

The study found no significant association between HEI scores and the likelihood of being thin or obese. However, children with the highest HEI scores were more likely to beoverweight. Therefore, it is recommended to implement health programs for primary school girls in Kerman to improve their eating habits and reduce the risk of overweight and obesity.