Abstract

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY AMONG ADOLESCENTS SCHOOL FEMALES IN BURAIDAH CITY

Dr. Kholud Alrashidi and *Dr. K. Chandra Sekhar

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is one of the major public health problem throughout the globe. It is a major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Saudi Arabia is facing one of the fastest-growing obesity rates in the world and also in most of the other countries, relatively women are more obese than men. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity, demographic factors and contributing factors associations among adolescents schools female students in Buraidah city. Materials & Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 233 female students at 5 secondary female schools during the period from January 2018 to June 2018. Self-administered questionnaire filled by the female students in Arabic language. Data entered and analyzed by using SPSS software 21.0 version. Necessary inferential statistics were used namely Chi square and independent t-test. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary schools students was 24%. In the study population, those who were consuming meals < or = 2 times adolescents, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 32.9% and those who were consuming meals 4 or more times the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 22.7% (P 5 hours as mobile call, play and social media. Conclusions: Based on this study results, the prevalence of the overweight and obesity among the female school adolescents was moderately high. Adoption and strengthening of balanced diet concept and health promotional measures definitely bring down the overweight and obesity load in the community certain extent.

Keywords: Age, Female Adolescents, Food habits, Physical activity, Overweight/obesity, BMI.