Human food preferences tend to favor foods with both fats and sugar [1] , high energy dense diets could increase the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity [2] and low energy dense diets could reduce weight and waist circumference [3] . An elevated body mass index in adolescence―one that is well within the range currently considered to be normal―constitutes a substantial risk factor for obesity-related disorders in midlife [4] and diet in this period is an important modifiable risk factor in the prevention of obesity and the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer in adulthood [5] [6] ; early prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity is critical in prevention of adult coronary vascular disease [7] [8] . In Algeria, in 2012 the proportion of deaths (% of all deaths, all ages, both sexes) is 41% of cardiovascular diseases, 10% cancers, 7% diabetes, which obesity includes (22.4% women and 9.6% men) of risk factors [9] . The dietary fat intake of children and adolescents plays an important role in their growth and development, and also has a long-term effect on adult health. For this reason, both quantity and quality of dietary fat are important [10] , since the 1980s many bodies and organizations have published recommendations regarding fat intake [11] , Lipids should provide 30% - 35% of total energy intake with less than 10% of saturated fatty acids, Cholesterol ≤ 300 mg [12] . Fat is the most energy dense macronutrient and has a less satiating effect than protein or carbohydrates [13] , and overconsumption has been linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-insulin dependent diabetes [14] . Obese people prefer foods high in fat [15] , obese adolescents tend to move towards a high-energy food, sweet-fatty or salty-fatty; and absorb excessive sodas which unbalance torque hunger/satiety [12] . Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years in USA [16] . In Algeria, Overweight reached 13.7% and obesity 3.2% in adolescents 13 to 15 years [17] .

Dietary practices established during adolescence can be difficult to change in future years [18] , recognizing the pattern of food consumption in adolescents is one of the most important in designing appropriate programs of research priorities and implementing effective approaches to improve the health status [19] . In Algeria, the information is limited on diet and health status of adolescents compared to children [20] ; for this reason, we conducted this study to examine the relationship between nutritional intake based on fat intake and obesity in adolescents and to suggest recommendations to improve adolescent health and then to prevent disease in adulthood.

We used USDA’s nutritient database for Nutrinux^® program to analyze dietary intake. GenStat discovery 03 was used to conduct the statistical analysis. Groups were formed according to the quartile of total fat as percentage of energy intake. Cut points for quartiles were: 1^st: Q1 < 30%, 2^nd: 30% ≤ Q2 ≤ 35%, 3^rd: Q3 > 35%. Chi-square test was used for evaluating the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity across de consumption of lipids quartiles. To compare the variations of continuous variables across quartiles of fat intake, we used analysis of variance ANOVA, and comparison of means was performed by using Duncan’s test for significance level α = 0.05.

1-There are only one P value: There is one factor of comparison which is the increased percentage in the consumption of fat and the comparison is done between the three groups Q1 Q2 Q3 and its relationship with:

Table 1: anthropometric characteristics,

Table 2: Mean energy, macronutrient and fatty acids intake

Table 3: Mean nutrient adequacy ratio

2-The significant difference among each group was presented using different superscript characters (a, b) was well explained:

a, a, a: there is no difference

a, b, c: all the parameters are different

a, a, b: there is some rapprochement between parameters 1 and 2 and the parameter 3 are different, and so on…

Anthropometric characteristics of adolescents across quartiles of percentage energy from total fat intake are presented in Table 1. A significant increase in age, weight, obesity and abdominal obesity in the higher quartiles in girls (P = 0.004, P = 0.008, P = 0.002, P = 0.010) was observed respectively. On the contrary, it was not a difference in boys. BMI increased significantly in the higher quartiles in both sexes. The frequency of the girls who walk at least 30 min/day decreased in the upper quartiles with a significant difference (P = 0.04), boys are more active than girls, although the intensity of physical activity did not differ in quartiles. Table 2 shows the distribution of energy and nutrient intakes across the quartiles of dietary fat. We observed higher consumption of SFA, LA, ratio n-6/n-3 that exceeds the recommendations [12] in the different quartiles of fat in both sexes, the increase in total fat intake is associated with decreased intake of sugars and increased energy intake, protein, saturated fatty acids SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids MUFA, PUFA and P/S in both sexes. For boys, there is an increase Cholesterol, ALA (18:3n3) and decrease in the ratio n6/n3, Cholesterol remains in recommendations ≤ 300 mg/day [12] .

¹Values are mean ± SE unless indicated; ^a,b,cThe different letters indicate significant differences between means according to Duncan’s test α = 0.05; ²P Values resulted from ANOVA from analysis of variance for quantitative variables and χ² from qualitative variables. BMI: body mass index; W_C: waist circumference.

¹Values are mean ± SE unless indicated, ²P Values resulted from ANOVA from analysis of variance for quantitative variables; ^a,b,cThe different letters indicate significant differences between means according to Duncan’s test α = 0.05; SFA: Saturated fatty acid, PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acid, MUFA: Monounsaturated fatty acid, P/S: PUFA/ SFA, LA (18:2n-6): linoleic acid, ALA (18:3n-3): alpha linolenic acid, Ratio n-6/n-3: LA (18:2n-6)/ ALA (18:3n-3).

Table 3 shows the nutritient adequacy ratio according to quartiles of dietary fat. The increase in fat intake is associated with a decrease of the nutritient adequacy ratio of folate, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium in both sexes, the nutritient adequacy ratio of vitamin C, riboflavin reduced only in girls (P = 0.043, P = 0029) respectively. The NARs of vitamin E, phosphorus, thiamin increase in both sexes with increasing fat intake, the NARs of calcium, retinol and vitamin D increase only in boys (P < 0.001, P = 0.010, P = 0.010), respectively.

The results of this study showed a significant association between increased consumption of fat and body mass index in both sexes and obesity and abdominal obesity in girls. There was a significant increase in age, weight, obesity in the upper quartiles in girls; the age of girls affects their fat intake, when age of girls increased, their fat intake increased affects their weight, body mass index and obesity. Some studies also show the higher tendency of girls toward consuming fats at post-puberty stage, which can be a response to the changes of steroids level of the gonads [25] . We did not find a difference in boys despite increasing body mass index (P = 0.047). The increase in fat consumption is associated with a decrease in the frequency of walking in girls; boys are more active than girls despite that we did not find a difference in the intensity of sports activity (vigorous or moderate) in the different quartiles in both sexes. Physical activity provides fundamental health benefits for children and youth and appropriate levels of physical activity contribute to facilitate maintenance of a healthy body weight [26] . Children and youth aged 5 - 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate―to vigorous―intensity physical activity daily. Vigorous-intensity activities should be incorporated at least 3 times per week [26] .

Excessive consumption, especially of lipids, and the imbalance of fatty acids in foods for humans are a cause of the development of obesity [27] , and the higher intake of carbohydrates from sweetened beverages, sugary

¹Values are mean ± SE unless indicated, ²P Values resulted from ANOVA from analysis of variance for quantitative variables; ^a,b,cThe different letters indicate significant differences between means according to Duncan’s test α = 0.05; ^†Adequate intake is considered as DRI, ^‡Recommended dietary allowance is considered as DRI.

cereals and industrial snacks, especially consumed and preferred, has been associated with overweight and obesity in school-age children [28] . Sweetened beverage consumption has also been linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes [29] and coronary heart disease [30] .

A lower total fat consumption leads to low but durable significant reduction (statistically and clinically) body weight in adults, the evidence supports a similar effect in children and young people [31] , The percentage of the population that is obese and coronary heart disease rates across countries [32] . Populations with relatively high intakes of saturated fat, especially animal fat and cholesterol, have relatively high serum cholesterol levels and high incidence of coronary heart disease compared to people with low intakes of fat [33] . Evidence from cohort studies reported conflicting results on total fat intake and the positive association with type 2diabetes [34] .

Different types of fatty acids display different metabolic behaviors such as oxidation and deposition rate differences that may contribute to weight change [35] . Although monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were not associated with changes in weight, animal fat, saturated fatty acids and Trans fatty acids have shown a positive association with 8 years of weight gain [36] . Contrary to the findings of the Swedish study, that reports some weak associations only in women, between the type of fatty acids and weight change: weight gain was inversely associated with saturated fatty acids consumption and positively associated au P/S ratio [37] . High consumption of saturated and Trans fats are associated with chronic diseases linked to obesity [38] . The majority of this population of adolescents needs to improve their intakes of calcium, the proportion did not differ by quartile of fat intake, inadequate intake of calcium would lead to increased appetite and overconsumption of fat [39] , a small amount of calcium is associated with increased adiposity. Different studies support an inverse relationship between calcium intake and the development of body fat [40] . Calcium was also required for an effective weight reduction program [35] . Davies et al. 2000 [41] noted a negative association between calcium intake and weight in young, middle-aged and older women and calculated that 1g calcium intake difference was associated with an 8kg difference in body weight [35] . Vitamin C may affect weight reduction [35] . Few studies have reported a significant inverse relationship between plasma vitamin C concentrations and degree of obesity [42] . Insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables often results in increased consumption of higher calorie foods [43] , adequate intake of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer and it helps regulate body weight [44] .

Higher dietary fat intake was associated with poor diet quality and higher body mass index in both sexes and high prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity among adolescent’s girls in Tlemcen. We recommended adolescent by healthy diets towards helps regulate their body weight and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer and especially the girls by lifestyle more active.

The authors wish to thank all the students and their parents for their kind participation in this study, and the administrators and teachers of schools in Tlemcen who participated in this study and all the people who helped made to the data collection.

MeryemAllioua,RabahDjaziri,Moustafa YassineMahdad,Semir Bechir SuheilGaouar,HarekDerradji,Boumediene MoussaBoudjemaa,SlimaneBelbraouet, (2015) Dietary Fat Intake, Micronutritient and Obesity among Adolescent in Tlemcen (Western Algeria). Food and Nutrition Sciences,06,860-868. doi: 10.4236/fns.2015.610090

BMI: body mass index

Wc: waist circumference

IOTF: International Obesity Task Force

USDA: United States Department of Agriculture

SFA: saturated fatty acid

MUFA: monounsaturated fatty acid

PUFA: polyunsaturated fatty acid, ratio

P/S: PUFA/SFA

LA(18:2n-6): linoleic acid

ALA(18:3n-3): alpha linolenic acid

ratio n-6/n-3: LA(18:2n-6)/ALA(18:3n-3)

NAR: nutrient adequacy ratio

DRI: dietary recommended intake

GPAQ: global physical activity questioner