RESUMO
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.
Assuntos
Atividade Motora , Estado Nutricional , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Saúde Pública , Medição de Risco/métodos , Adolescente , Índice de Massa Corporal , Peso Corporal , Criança , Intervalos de Confiança , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Razão de Chances , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Arábia Saudita/epidemiologia , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores Sexuais , Adulto JovemRESUMO
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.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Adolescente , Pressão Sanguínea , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Consanguinidade , Estudos Transversais , Dieta , Exercício Físico , Humanos , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Masculino , Obesidade/complicações , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Arábia Saudita/epidemiologia , Instituições Acadêmicas , Fumar/epidemiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
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.