The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors
Objectives: To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity.Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 6–18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072/full |
| _version_ | 1811332688178577408 |
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| author | Naser Elkum Naser Elkum Monira Alarouj Abdullah Bennakhi Azza Shaltout |
| author_facet | Naser Elkum Naser Elkum Monira Alarouj Abdullah Bennakhi Azza Shaltout |
| author_sort | Naser Elkum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity.Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 6–18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured from 6,574 Arab Kuwaiti schoolchildren, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were defined in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (aged 6–18 years) were 17.7% and 33.7%, respectively. The likelihood of childhood obesity increased with birth weights >4.0 Kg [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; p < 0.0001], maternal employment (OR = 1.26, p = 0.0006), maternal age at pregnancy >30 years (OR = 1.24; p = 0.0016) and family size of <6 members (OR = 1.16, p = 0.0106).Conclusions: Public health professionals should be aware that advanced maternal age, maternal employment, smaller family size, and high birthweight may predict the risk of obesity in Kuwaiti Arab children and adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:40:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32d3cd1e71474086a7c0f01f2b542d51 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:40:44Z |
| publishDate | 2019-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-32d3cd1e71474086a7c0f01f2b542d512022-12-22T02:39:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652019-04-01710.3389/fpubh.2019.00072434405The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic FactorsNaser Elkum0Naser Elkum1Monira Alarouj2Abdullah Bennakhi3Azza Shaltout4Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, QatarDepartment of Clinical Services, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Clinical Services, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Clinical Services, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, KuwaitDepartment of Clinical Services, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, KuwaitObjectives: To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity.Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 6–18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured from 6,574 Arab Kuwaiti schoolchildren, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were defined in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (aged 6–18 years) were 17.7% and 33.7%, respectively. The likelihood of childhood obesity increased with birth weights >4.0 Kg [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; p < 0.0001], maternal employment (OR = 1.26, p = 0.0006), maternal age at pregnancy >30 years (OR = 1.24; p = 0.0016) and family size of <6 members (OR = 1.16, p = 0.0106).Conclusions: Public health professionals should be aware that advanced maternal age, maternal employment, smaller family size, and high birthweight may predict the risk of obesity in Kuwaiti Arab children and adolescents.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072/fullobesitychildrenArabsprevalencerisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Naser Elkum Naser Elkum Monira Alarouj Abdullah Bennakhi Azza Shaltout The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors Frontiers in Public Health obesity children Arabs prevalence risk factors |
| title | The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors |
| title_full | The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors |
| title_fullStr | The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors |
| title_short | The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors |
| title_sort | complex etiology of childhood obesity in arabs is highlighted by a combination of biological and socio economic factors |
| topic | obesity children Arabs prevalence risk factors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072/full |
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