The relation between the consumption of food with high glycemic index and body weight

The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between glycemic Index of daily diets of adolescents between 13-15 and their body weight in view of their present eating habits. The study group of the investigation comprises 143 students between 13-15 who attended Toygar Börekçi Primary Education School during 2005-2006 academic years. Data collected using a questionnary developed by the investigator were analyzed using SPSS 11.0 and BEBS programs and mean, standard deviation, t test, correlation, chi-square and one way variance analyses were carried out. When the frequency of the food consumption in adolescents was investigated, it was established that they consumed bread, sugar, cola, chocolate, rice, carrot, ice cream, noodles, yogurt, milk and sugar candies more. The difference between sexes in terms of the consumption of pastry, which is a food with high GI (male=137,0 g. Female= 96.8 g) and green vegetables with low GI (male= 98.2 g, female= 189.6 g.) was found to be significant (p<0.05). It was also established that the energy they received from daily diets was (male=1704.8±482.22 kcal, female =1591.9±567.69 kcal) inadequate; similarly the consumption of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc were found to be inadequate while the consumption of protein was adequate (male= 56.3±20.23 g, female= 56.0±16.10 g) It was also found that the energy adolescents received from their deists warless than that they spent. A significant difference was found between sexes with regard to energy expenditure (p<0.001) and consumption of protein (p<0.01). It was also established that the relation between the income and the education level of the families and carbohydrate consumption and GI level of the diet was significant (p<0.005). In conclusion, it is thought it will be beneficial if adolescents are informed about adequate and balanced nutrition in the framework of basic education and especially families with high income level should be informed about food with high GI index. In addition, further studies that try to determine the GI level of daily food and diets are warranted