Nutrition, physical activity, and gender risks for adolescent obesity in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate gender differences in obesity and related behavior among adolescent school boys and girls in southwestern Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study on a stratified sample of 1,249 adolescent boys and 620 adolescent girls, was conducted in southwestern Saudi Arabia. They were interviewed and examined for weight and height using standardized techniques. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study amounted to 23.2% among boys and 29.4% among girls. The following significant risk factors were identified; being a female [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =1.372, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.099-1.753] and lack of class physical exercise (aOR =1.452, 95% CI =1.149-2.117). CONCLUSION: Obesity among adolescents is a public health problem in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. The problem is more prevalent among girls. Thus, there is a need for a national programme in the country to prevent and control obesity among adolescents.

Cardiovascular risk factors among adolescent secondary school boys in Ahad Rufeida, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional stratified sample of 1249 adolescent secondary school boys was studied. More than 25% of boys did not practice any physical exercise. More than half of the parents (54.5%) were consanguineous. High prevalence of parental history of hypertension, diabetes and high blood lipids was found. Smoking amounted to 11.8%. The prevalence of obesity was 23.3%. The study showed that 6.8% had a high systolic blood pressure and 13.0% (162) had high diastolic blood pressure. There is a need for a national programme to prevent and control cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents.

Adolescents' mental health in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Using stratified random sampling technique, 1552 adolescent school age boys and girls in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were screened for mental health using Arabic validated version of SCL-90-R. The overall prevalence of mental disorders amounted to 15.5%. The most frequent mental symptoms were phobic anxiety (17.3%), interpersonal sensitivity (14.7%), and obsessive compulsive (14.5%). In logistic regression analysis, some sociodemographic conditions (father education, mother working status, ranking among brothers and sisters, and type of school) were significantly affecting mental health. General practitioners and other primary care workers need to be educated to better engage young people, to recognize mental disorders, and to deliver simple treatments, including supportive counseling, and cognitive behavior therapy. There is a need for a national program in the country to integrate youth mental-health interventions with all existing youth programs, including those in health and education.

Obesity and related behaviors among adolescent school boys in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Using stratified sampling technique 2696 adolescent school boys (aged 11-19 years) in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia were interviewed and examined for weight and height using standardized techniques. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study amounted to 16%. Using logistic regression analysis, lack of exercise practice in the previous week in general [aOR = 1.352, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.066-1.941] or in the class (aOR = 1.446, 95% CI = 1.083-1.931) were significantly associated with obesity. The present study showed that obesity among adolescent school boys in Abha City is a public health problem. There is a need for a national program in the country to prevent and control obesity among adolescents. The program should incorporate: dietary management of obesity, promotion of physical activity, health education campaigns and consideration of the possibility of providing facilities for practicing physical activity and exercise in the community.