Skip Navigation



Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access published online on November 25, 2007
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, doi:10.1093/tropej/fmm089
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
54/2/120    most recent
fmm089v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mahfouz, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by Moussa, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mahfouz, A. A.
Right arrow Articles by Moussa, H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author [2007]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Obesity and Related Behaviors among Adolescent School Boys in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Ahmed A. Mahfouz, Ismail Abdelmoneim, Mohamed Y. Khan, Asim A. Daffalla, Mohamed M. Diab, Khalid S. Al-Gelban and Hasan Moussa

Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence: Dr Ahmed A. Mahfouz, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, PO Box 641, Saudi Arabia. E-mail < mahfouz2005{at}gmail.com>.


  Abstract

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.

Key Words: obesity • adolescents • Saudi Arabia • prevalence • risk factors


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.