scholarly journals The Association Between Physical Activity and Obesity among School Children and Adolescents in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heba M. Elkhodary ◽  
Deema J. Farsi

Obesity affects children’s physical and psychological well-being. In this study we investigated the associations of obesity with physical activity, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle among Saudi children and adolescents. A stratified sample of 729 school children and 794 adolescent students was recruited. Waist circumference and body mass index were used to categorize the participants as obese and non-obese, and a structured mixed questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic, physical activity, and lifestyle data. The results revealed that obese adolescent males (33.5%) were significantly more common than obese adolescent females (13.6%, P < 0.001). Body mass index-based and waist circumference-based obesity was significantly more common in private schools compared to public schools among school children and adolescents (P = 0.013 and P = 0.002, respectively). Student obesity was associated with higher parental education, especially among the school children (P = 0.006). Among adolescents, obesity was strongly associated with family income (P = 0.002) and time spent watching television (P = 0.004). Non-obese children and adolescents were considered subjectively more active than their obese counterparts (P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). In conclusion, obesity was common among school children and adolescents, and was associated with private schooling, adolescent male sex, parental education, and family income. Physical inactivity and time spent watching television were important risk factors for obesity among Saudi school children and adolescents.

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Dalene ◽  
S. A. Anderssen ◽  
L. B. Andersen ◽  
J. Steene-Johannessen ◽  
U. Ekelund ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Shikha Dwivedi ◽  
Rupali Sengupta

Introduction: Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for promoting lifelong health and well-being and preventing various health conditions. The 2008, Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommended that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years should have 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate and vigorous intensity physical activity each day. Unfortunately, many children and adolescents do not meet the recommendations set forth by the guidelines. Aim: To study the physical activity levels and its impact on body mass index (BMI). Methodology: 420 subjects were selected by purposive random sampling method from 5 schools of Mumbai. Physical activity levels of the samples were assessed through the physical activity questionnaire and the height and weight of all the samples were taken to calculate the BMI. Results: It was observed that 39.5% performed sedentary activities for on an average of 0-1 hr/week. Similarly, 74.2% subjects performed moderate to high intensity activities for an average of 0-1 hr/week. Maximum % of subjects (48%) spent 1-2hr/week in performing sedentary activities whereas, when compared to moderate to high intensity activities maximum % of subjects performed only for 0-1 hr/week. Only 116 subjects met the daily requirements of moderate to high intensity physical activity. A total of 33.2% of samples were observed to be under the three categories of wasting (mild, moderate and severe respectively) as per WHO standards.


Author(s):  
OJS Admin

Nutrition has fundamental role in the well-being of any individual. The intake of proper diet along with any kind of regular activity is essential for obtaining good health.


2017 ◽  
Vol 129 (21-22) ◽  
pp. 786-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Furthner ◽  
Margit Ehrenmüller ◽  
Ariane Biebl ◽  
Roland Lanzersdorfer ◽  
Gerhard Halmerbauer ◽  
...  

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1258
Author(s):  
Kalyana Chakravarthy Bairapareddy ◽  
Mariam Mhd Salem Kamcheh ◽  
Ranim Jihad Itani ◽  
Mirna Mohamed ◽  
Heba Ayman Eid Abdellatif Zahran ◽  
...  

Background: Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity along with body mass are identified as critical determinants of vascular health along with body mass in young adults. However, the relationship between potential physical health and anthropometric variables with high blood Eid pressure remain unexplored in young adults from the United Arab Emirates region. Methodology: We administered a cross-sectional study in young adults assessing their self-reported physical activity levels, anthropometric variables (body mass index and waist circumference) and ambulatory blood pressure. The associations among potential physical health, anthropometric variables and high blood pressure were analysed through logistic regression after necessary transformation. Results: Of 354 participants (176 males, 178 females), we found 17.79% (n = 63) had higher mean arterial pressure. Males (n = 40; 22.73%) had higher risk of hypertension than females (n = 12.92%). Weekly physical activity levels (β = −0.001; p = 0.002), age (β = −0.168; p = 0.005) and gender (β = −0.709; p = 0.028) were found to be more strongly associated with hypertension risk than the body mass index (β = 0.093; p = 0.075), waist circumference (β = 0.013; p = 0.588) and the weekly sitting time (β = 0.000; p = 0.319) of the individuals. Conclusions: Lower physical activity was associated with hypertension risk compared to other modifiable risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index and sedentary time in college-going young adults. Public health measures should continue to emphasise optimisation of weekly physical activity levels to mitigate vascular health risks at educational institution levels.


Author(s):  
Matthew Hobbs ◽  
Stuart J.H. Biddle ◽  
Andrew P. Kingsnorth ◽  
Lukas Marek ◽  
Melanie Tomintz ◽  
...  

Background: This study investigates the association between television (TV) viewing and child adiposity and if parental education and child ethnicity moderate this association. Method: Cross-sectional, pooled (2013/2014–2016/2017) adult and child New Zealand Health Survey were matched resulting in 13,039 children (2–14 y) and parent dyads. Child TV viewing was estimated using self-reported time for each weekday and weekend. The height (in centimeters), weight (in kilograms), and waist circumference of parents and children were measured. Childhood body mass index and obesity were defined using the International Obesity Task Force cutoff values. Effect modification was assessed by interaction and then by stratifying regression analyses by parent education (low, moderate, and high) and child ethnicity (Asian, European/other, Māori, and Pacific). Results: Overall, watching ≥2 hours TV on average per day in the past week, relative to <2 hours TV viewing, was associated with a higher odds of obesity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.291 [1.108–1.538]), higher body mass index z score (b = 0.123 [0.061–0.187]), and higher waist circumference (b = 0.546 [0.001–1.092]). Interactions considering this association by child ethnicity and parent education revealed little evidence of effect modification. Conclusion: While TV viewing was associated with child adiposity, the authors found little support for a moderating role of parental education and child ethnicity.


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