Body mass index of Kuwaiti children aged 3-9 years: reference percentiles and curves.

AIM: The suitability of using the standards for body mass index (BMI), produced in the U.S. by the National Center for Health Statistics, for assessing overweight and obesity among children in Kuwait and other Arabian Gulf countries has not been examined. These standards were obtained from better-nourished and genetically different populations to those found in Kuwait and in other Gulf region countries. The purpose of this study was to develop BMI reference percentiles and curves appropriate for children aged 3-9 in these countries. METHOD: Attempts were made to include all healthy Kuwaiti kindergarten and elementary education children in this study The total sample was 113,013, comprising 55,053 males and 57,960 females. The children were measured for weight and height from which the BMI was calculated. Appropriate polynomial regression smoothing techniques were used to obtain the best-fitting percentile curves. RESULTS: At percentiles < or =25th, the BMI of boys exceeded that of girls. At the 50th percentile, boys' BMI was mostly higher than or equal to that of the girls except at age nine where it was lower At the 75th percentile, the BMI of both genders was similar, with exceptions at age six and nine years. At the 85th and 95th percentiles, girls' BMI was consistently higher than males. At the lowest percentile, the BMI of US children was higher than Kuwaiti, Saudi (starting at six) and Iranian children. The BMI of Kuwaiti children at higher percentiles was higher than that of Saudi, Iranian (except at age < four years) and US children. CONCLUSION: BMI curves for Kuwaiti children follow almost the same pattern as their US counterparts but with noticeable variations especially at the lower and higher percentiles. This study may reflect that western standards may not be directly applicable to assess the level of BMI in Kuwait and possibly in the neighbouring Gulf countries, since they may overestimate the levels of overweight, obesity and underweight.

Are Kuwaitis getting fatter?

The purpose of the study is to compare temporal changes in BMI, overweight (BMI > 25 Kg/m2) and obesity (BMI > 30 Kg/m2) of two independent cross-sectional samples of Kuwaitis studied in 1980-81 and 1993-94. The earlier sample of 2067 (896 men and 1171 women) and the latter sample of 3435 (1730 men and 1705 women) adult Kuwaitis (aged > or = 18 years), were drawn from primary health care (PHC) clinics and studied for nutritional assessment and for prevalence of obesity in 1980-81 and 1993-94, respectively. Weight was measured in kilograms and height in meters to obtain the body mass index (BMI), which is the weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared (Kg/m2). BMI > 25 and > 30 Kg/m2 were classified as overweight and obesity, respectively. The results of the study show that mean BMI (Kg/m2) increased significantly (p < 0.001) by 10.0 and 6.2% (2.5 and 1.7 Kg/m2) among men and women, respectively. Prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI > 25 and > 30 Kg/m2) increased by 20.6 and 15.4% and by 13.7 and 8.4% among men and women, respectively. After controlling for sociodemographic differences between the two study periods, mean BMI was 2.0 and 1.6 Kg/m2 higher in 1993-94 than in 1980-81 among men and women, respectively. Prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI > 25 and > 30 Kg/m2) also increased among both genders between the two periods (OR = 2.1 , 95% CI 1.7-2.7 and OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-2.4, for men and OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0 and OR = 1.4, 95% CI 2.2 CI 1.0-1.9, for women). It can be concluded that the BMI, prevalence of overweight and obesity increased among Kuwaitis between 1980-81 and 1993-94, probably due to the effects of modernization, affluence, increased food consumption and the concomitant changes to sedentary lifestyles. The rate of temporal changes in BMI and obesity were higher, by comparison, in Kuwait than in selected other countries.

Factors associated with overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti kindergarten female teachers.

Levels of overweight and obesity among Kuwaiti women are high, and the objective of this study was to explore factors that may be responsible. A sample of 461 Kuwaiti kindergarten female teachers was studied; weight and height were measured, and the classification of overweight or obese taken as having a Body Mass Index of 25-30 or >30, respectively. This revealed that 41.2 and 19.7% of the teachers were overweight or obese, respectively. Factors found to be significantly associated with overweight and obesity among the teachers included age, marital status, parents living at home, subjects' parental obesity, number of obese relatives, exercise, last dental check-up and dental status.

Social and Health Factors Associated with Physical Activity among Kuwaiti College Students.

Our aim was to explore the social and health factors that are associated with the level of physical activity among Kuwaiti college students. A random sample of 787 students (48% males and 52% females) was chosen and weight and height were measured to obtain body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)). Associated social and health factors were obtained using a questionnaire. Those reporting being physically inactive numbered 354 and the remaining 433 were active. Obesity among males was 13% and was 10.5% among females. The social and health factors that were found to be significantly associated with physical activity among the students were gender (P < .001), marital status (P < .05), BMI category (obese or nonobese) (P < .05), last dental and health checkup (P < .01), desiring a higher degree (P < .001), and countries preferred for visiting (P < .01). Males significantly exceeded females in the practice of physical activity. In conclusion, behavioural modifications, intervention studies, and health education touting the benefits of being physically active should be instituted to increase the practice of sports and other physical activities in order to control and decrease obesity-related morbidity and mortality.

Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Kuwaiti Elementary Male School Children Aged 6-10 Years.

Background. Childhood obesity is becoming a global epidemic which may result in increased morbidity and mortality during young adulthood. Objectives. To identify factors associated with overweight and that of obesity among Kuwaiti elementary male school children aged 6-10 years. Methods. Weights and heights of 662 students at a randomly selected school were collected to obtain body mass index (BMI). Results. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the students were 20.2% and 16.8%, respectively. There were a variety of factors associated with overweight and obesity; however, having one or more obese brother, an unemployed father, or a high (>11) number of persons living at home was significantly associated with higher risk of overweight and obesity. Increased age and school level as well as having a chronic disease were associated with the risk of overweight. Conclusion. Health education programs for families should be implemented to help control overweight and obesity in Kuwaiti children.

Anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of schoolchildren in Qatar.

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the anthropometric measurements and dietary habits of children in the Arabian Gulf in general, and in Qatar in particular. OBJECTIVES: To conduct anthropometrics measurements on schoolchildren in Qatar and to explore their dietary habits. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out, targeting 271 (124 male and 147 female) primary school students. RESULTS: Using the body mass index as the index of adiposity, 54.8% and 23.1% of Grade One male and female children were underweight, 3.2% and 8.8% were overweight, and 1.6% and 5.4% were obese, respectively. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were eaten by 65%, 86%, and 87% on a daily basis. Anthropometric measurements differed significantly (P < 0.05) between genders and the other children of the National Center for Health Statistics population. CONCLUSION: schoolchildren in Qatar may be considered as having less overweight and obesity occurrence than most children in the Gulf.