Overweight and obesity among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: a multi-school cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Obesity in adolescence may track into adulthood. Understanding the multifactorial nature of obesity is necessary to curb the growing trends. This study aimed to provide updated estimates on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents and to scrutinize the associations with parental weight status and various lifestyle and socioeconomic factors.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from 16 schools located in Jeddah and Madina, Saudi Arabia. Data of 522 adolescents (11-18 years of age) and their parents were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements of adolescents were assessed at the school sites. Logistic regression with complex sampling adjustments was conducted to examine the associations of adolescent overweight or obesity with various lifestyle and socioeconomic factors and parental weight status.

RESULTS

Overweight and obesity was prevalent by 13.2% and 26.1%, respectively. Living in a single-parent household, maternal obesity, and the coexistence of parental obesity were associated with an increased likelihood of overweight or obesity in adolescents. Stratified analyses by adolescent sex revealed different associations for boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of the family environment and the necessity to enroll parents when implementing adolescence obesity prevention programs. Health promotion strategies that promote environmental changes related to healthy lifestyle and dietary practices are needed to eliminate the rising obesity trends.