Aim: The aim of this observational study was to investigate the intake of dietary fibre and its sources among Polish adolescents according to prevalence of overweight after adjustment for age and gender.
Methods: The study sample consisted of 1,565 students, including 48% boys and 52% girls aged 13-18 with normal weight, overweight and obesity. Dietary information was reported using the Block Screening Questionnaire for Fruit/Vegetable/Fibre Intake. The nutritional status was assessed on the basis of body mass and height measurements. The statistical analysis used one-factor logistic regression, multiple linear regression, trend estimation and a comparison of mean values.
Results: Adolescents consuming white bread and rolls with a frequency ≥4 times/week had OR=0.74 (95% CI 0.56-0.97) for overweight and obesity compared to adolescents with less frequent consumption. For other fibre sources and overall dietary fibre no significant differences were noted in consumption frequency between adolescents with normal weight and overweight/obesity. Overall, boys were more often overweight and obese than girls. Girls had a higher intake of dietary fibre, fruit, fresh vegetables, dark bread and rolls, and lower intake of potatoes, beans and white bread and rolls than boys. Older age was associated with a decrease in the consumption of fruit juices, fruit, potatoes, white bread and rolls, and dietary fibre in girls and a decrease in fruit and fresh vegetable consumption in boys.
Conclusion: The intake of dietary fibre was not associated with the prevalence of overweight. As to the fibre sources, only a higher consumption of white bread and rolls decreased the chance of the occurrence of adolescent overweight. The consumption of dietary fibre and its sources was related to the age and gender of adolescents.
Keywords: adolescent; age; dietary fibre; fibre sources; gender; overweight.
Copyright© by the National Institute of Public Health, Prague 2016