A Report of Health Related Anthropometric Indices in 2–5 Years Old Children of Golestan Province of Iran in 2015

Pediatric malnutrition is an enormous health issue all around the world and its distribution is different in distinct areas of a country. This study has been designed to report the anthropometric status and some socio-economic factors among 2–5 years old children from Golestan province of Iran to show a better view of pediatric health status and better planning for future actions. This study was carried out by clustered-randomized sampling method on 1,382 of 2–5 years old children in urban and rural areas of Golestan province. Anthropometric measurements were performed and World Health Organization child growth standards were used for further analyses. The prevalence of stunting in boys and girls were 7.4% and 7.5% in urban and 4.1% and 5.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of underweight in boys and girls were 6.9% and 4.7% in urban and 5.7% and 4.4% in rural areas. The prevalence of subjects being at risk for overweight were 17.8% and 11.7% in boys and girls, respectively, in urban areas and were 11.1% and 9.2% in rural areas, respectively. There was a marginally significant difference between urban boys and girls in terms of weight status (p = 0.067). In this study remarkably high prevalence of malnutrition, especially a high dominance of overweight, was reported in Golestan province of Iran. Follow-up investigation to identify the cause of malnutrition and to establish public health policies are needed to revise these health issues in Golestan province of Iran.

Effect of magnesium supplementation on physical activity of overweight or obese insomniac elderly subjects: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

Strategies for weight reduction often promote lifestyle changes like encouraging participation in physical activity. Also there is some evidence suggesting an association between insomnia and physical activity level and probable beneficial effect of magnesium supplementation on insomnia. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium supplementation on physical activity level in insomniac elderly subjects. A double blind randomized clinical trial was conducted in 46 overweight or obese subjects, randomly allocated into the magnesium or the placebo group and received 500 mg magnesium or placebo daily for 8 weeks. Questionnaires of insomnia severity index [ISI], physical activity and sleep-log were completed and serum magnesium measured at baseline and after the intervention period. Anthropometric confounding factors, daily intake of magnesium, calcium, potassium, caffeine, calorie form carbohydrates, fat, protein and total calorie intake, were obtained using 24-hrs recall for 3- days. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS-19 software. No significant differences were observed in assessed variables between the two groups at the baseline. According to our research magnesium supplementation significantly increased sleep indices and physical activity level, also resulted in significantly decrease of total calorie intake in magnesium group. Although serum magnesium concentration and weight did not show any differences. In the present study magnesium supplementation resulted in improvement of sleep indices and physical activity level in elderly subjects. Although according to our short term intervention no significant beneficial effect was observed on subject's weight