RESUMO
Background: This study investigated the prevalence of obesity among university students in Saudi Arabia's western region, as well as its association with gender, smoking, consumption of sugary drinks, and hours of sleep. Methods: A cross-sectional study recruited a simple random sample of students from King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Saudi Arabia's western region. In this study, the Arab Teens Lifestyle (ATLS) questionnaire was used. The survey was conducted between April and June 2022. Results: In total, 659 students participated (313 males [37.3%] and 437 females [66.2%]). One-fourth of the students, 158 (24%), were overweight, and 83 (12.7%) were obese. Male participants were overweight or obese by a rate of 32.6% and 19.4%, respectively. Female overweight and obese rates were 16.2% and 6.6%, respectively. Moreover, obesity/overweight rates were 43.6% in the urban area and 36.9% in the rural area (P=0.03). A total of 370 participants (56.14%) slept less than 8 hours per day, 185 (28.1%) spent more than five hours per day watching television or using the internet, and 303 (46%) ate breakfast on a regular basis. Obesity/overweight was more common in smokers than in nonsmokers (59.7% vs 32.8%, P=0.01). The prevalence of obesity was lower among those who walked three days or more per week (28.1% vs 44.1%; P=0.01) and ran/jogged outside or on a treadmill three days or more per week (29.5% vs 39.8%; P=0.03) than among those who ran/jogged less than three days per week. Student obesity was independently predicted by being male (P=0.01), drinking more sugary drinks (P=0.01), smoking (P=0.03), and sleeping for fewer hours (P=0.03). Conclusion: Obesity was more prevalent in male students, with a prevalence of 24%. Male gender, consumption of more sugary beverages, smoking, and sleeping for fewer hours were all independent predictors of obesity among university students.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the perceptions of Saudi Arabian medical disciplines students undergoing training in various institutes of Australia regarding psychosocial, cultural, and academic challenges. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was from March 15 to June 15, 2019. Data were collected by an online questionnaire. It consisted of questions regarding demographic, psychosocial, cultural, and academic challenges. Two hundred nineteen students studying in Australia responded to our questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the total 219 students, 13(6.0%) were undergraduate, 167(76%) were postgraduate, and 39(18%) were Ph.D. students. For most students (171[79.2%]), Australia was the country of choice for studying. Most of them were satisfied with their academic performance and adjustment to the Australian way of living. Most of the students (180[82.2%]) showed satisfaction over the availability of fair chances of their religious practices in Australia. Few of them faced difficulties coping with the Australian climate (25[11.4%]), homesickness (59[26.9%]), and food and dietary sources (44[20.1%]). Students were overall satisfied with the student advisory system (156[71.2%]), university assessments (147[67.2%]), and available research facilities (170[77.6%]). Among participants, 77 (35.1%), 119(54.3%), and 23(10.5%) students indicated that they wished to stay in Australia only until completion of their studies, temporarily and permanently, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that Saudi students in Australia had strong psychosocial well-being, cultural integration, and academic success. Most of them were satisfied and adjusted well to Australian culture.