Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 72 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | APR |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2019 |
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Keywords
- Arabs
- Children
- Obesity
- Prevalence
- Risk factors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
The complex etiology of childhood obesity in arabs is highlighted by a combination of biological and socio-economic factors. / Elkum, Naser; Alarouj, Monira; Bennakhi, Abdullah; Shaltout, Azza.
In: Frontiers in Public Health, Vol. 7, No. APR, 72, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The complex etiology of childhood obesity in arabs is highlighted by a combination of biological and socio-economic factors
AU - Elkum, Naser
AU - Alarouj, Monira
AU - Bennakhi, Abdullah
AU - Shaltout, Azza
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Arabs
KW - Children
KW - Obesity
KW - Prevalence
KW - Risk factors
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U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072
M3 - Article
VL - 7
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
SN - 2296-2565
IS - APR
M1 - 72
ER -