Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A better understanding of the relationships between obesity and lifestyle factors is necessary for effective prevention and management of obesity in youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations betwe...

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Main Authors: Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M, Abahussain Nada A, Al-Sobayel Hana I, Qahwaji Dina M, Musaiger Abdulrahman O
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2012-05-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/354
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author Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M
Abahussain Nada A
Al-Sobayel Hana I
Qahwaji Dina M
Musaiger Abdulrahman O
author_facet Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M
Abahussain Nada A
Al-Sobayel Hana I
Qahwaji Dina M
Musaiger Abdulrahman O
author_sort Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A better understanding of the relationships between obesity and lifestyle factors is necessary for effective prevention and management of obesity in youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between obesity measures and several lifestyle factors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents aged 14–19 years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a school-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in three cities in Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh). The participants were 2906 secondary school males (1400) and females (1506) aged 14–19 years, who were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), screen time (television viewing, video games and computer use), physical activity (determined using a validated questionnaire), and dietary habits (intake frequency per week). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between obesity and lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with non-obese, obese males and females were significantly less active, especially in terms of vigorous activity, had less favorable dietary habits (e.g., lower intake of breakfast, fruits and milk), but had lower intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets/chocolates. Logistic regression analysis showed that overweight/obesity (based on BMI categories) or abdominal obesity (based on WHtR categories) were significantly and inversely associated with vigorous physical activity levels (aOR for high level = 0.69, 95% CI 0.41–0.92 for BMI and 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.89 for WHtR) and frequency of breakfast (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.44; 95% CI 1.20–1.71 for BMI and 1.47; 95% CI 1.22–1.76 for WHtR) and vegetable (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03–1.59 for WHtR) intakes, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.32; 95% CI 1.08–1.62 for BMI and 1.42; 95% CI 1.16–1.75 for WHtR).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study identified several lifestyle factors associated with obesity that may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Primary prevention of obesity by promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets should be a national public health priority.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-9d76a016ad974b75800333a6959357b52022-12-21T21:05:06ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582012-05-0112135410.1186/1471-2458-12-354Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescentsAl-Hazzaa Hazzaa MAbahussain Nada AAl-Sobayel Hana IQahwaji Dina MMusaiger Abdulrahman O<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A better understanding of the relationships between obesity and lifestyle factors is necessary for effective prevention and management of obesity in youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between obesity measures and several lifestyle factors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents aged 14–19 years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a school-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in three cities in Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh). The participants were 2906 secondary school males (1400) and females (1506) aged 14–19 years, who were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), screen time (television viewing, video games and computer use), physical activity (determined using a validated questionnaire), and dietary habits (intake frequency per week). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between obesity and lifestyle factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with non-obese, obese males and females were significantly less active, especially in terms of vigorous activity, had less favorable dietary habits (e.g., lower intake of breakfast, fruits and milk), but had lower intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets/chocolates. Logistic regression analysis showed that overweight/obesity (based on BMI categories) or abdominal obesity (based on WHtR categories) were significantly and inversely associated with vigorous physical activity levels (aOR for high level = 0.69, 95% CI 0.41–0.92 for BMI and 0.63, 95% CI 0.45–0.89 for WHtR) and frequency of breakfast (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.44; 95% CI 1.20–1.71 for BMI and 1.47; 95% CI 1.22–1.76 for WHtR) and vegetable (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03–1.59 for WHtR) intakes, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.32; 95% CI 1.08–1.62 for BMI and 1.42; 95% CI 1.16–1.75 for WHtR).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present study identified several lifestyle factors associated with obesity that may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Primary prevention of obesity by promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets should be a national public health priority.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/354AdolescentsDietary habitsLifestyleOverweightObesityPhysical activitySaudi ArabiaSedentary behaviors
spellingShingle Al-Hazzaa Hazzaa M
Abahussain Nada A
Al-Sobayel Hana I
Qahwaji Dina M
Musaiger Abdulrahman O
Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
BMC Public Health
Adolescents
Dietary habits
Lifestyle
Overweight
Obesity
Physical activity
Saudi Arabia
Sedentary behaviors
title Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
title_full Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
title_fullStr Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
title_full_unstemmed Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
title_short Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents
title_sort lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among saudi adolescents
topic Adolescents
Dietary habits
Lifestyle
Overweight
Obesity
Physical activity
Saudi Arabia
Sedentary behaviors
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/354
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AT qahwajidinam lifestylefactorsassociatedwithoverweightandobesityamongsaudiadolescents
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