Introduction

The consumption of dietary calcium, particularly from dairy products, is associated with the reduction of fat mass and body weight. The aim was evaluate calcium intake and its relationships with overweight and obesity in adolescent females (14-19 years) from Ecuador between 2015 and 2016.

Material and Methods

The study was descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional and correlative. Nutritional status was assessed in 1,211 females adolescent using the BMI/age, height/age, fat percentage and waist circumference. Calcium intake was measured in a sample of 294 adolescents diagnosed as being overweight and/or obese through the 24-hour reminder and food frequency consumption method.

Results

21.1% of the total population presented overweight and 4% obesity according to BMI/age and 28.7% overweight, 7.9% obesity according to fat percentage. The mean Ca intake was 403.5mg/day. There was no significant relation between Ca intake determined by 24-hour reminder and food frequency consumption and adiposity. There was a significant association between Ca intake and BMI.

Conclusions

There is not relationship between calcium intake and increasing of fatty tissue in the female adolescents studied.

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