Reported frequency of physical activity, fitness, and fatness in Kuwait

Overweight and obesity among adults in the Gulf States: A systematic literature review of correlates of weight, weight-related behaviours, and interventions

Obesity has increased to an epidemic level in the Gulf States. This systematic review is the first to explore the scientific evidence on correlates and interventions for overweight (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25) or weight-related behaviours in the region. A systematic search of peer-reviewed articles was conducted using PubMed and PsycINFO. Ninety-one studies were eligible for this review including 84 correlate studies and seven intervention studies. Correlate studies of overweight focused on sociodemographic factors, physical activity, and dietary habits. Low physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and unhealthy dietary habits were associated with overweight. The most-reported sociodemographic correlates of overweight were increased age, being married, low education, urban residence, and unemployment. Correlate studies of physical activity and dietary behaviours mostly focused on sociodemographic variables. Being female and increased age (the latter less consistently) were associated with low physical activity. Interventions were very heterogeneous with respect to the target group, intensity, and behavioural strategies used. The effectiveness of interventions was difficult to evaluate because of the chosen study design or outcome measure, the small sample size, or high attrition rate. Few studies have investigated sociocognitive and environmental determinants of weight-related behaviours. Such information is crucial to developing health promotion initiatives that target those weight-related behaviours.

Lower limb body composition is associated to knee passive extension torque-angle response

Purpose

People vary in flexibility regarding maximum joint angle, resistance to stretch and mechanical responses during stretching exercises. Body composition (BC) has been been mentioned as one of the factors for flexibility differences. The aim of this study was to determine how body composition and anthropometric measures of the lower limb is associated with passive knee extension (PKE) torque-angle (T-A) response.

Methods

Twenty-five male subjects with poor flexibility performed a maximal PKE repetition (velocity of 2°/s; 90 seconds in the static phase). Knee passive T-A, vastus medialis and semitendinosous electromyographic activity were recorded during the protocol. Viscoelastic stress relaxation (VSR) amplitude, knee passive stiffness (KPS), lower limb body composition assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and anthropometry measures were determined.

Results

Thigh skeletal muscle and bone mass, as well as thigh perimeter, showed a moderated correlation with passive torque (r = 0.45; r = 0.6; r = 0.59, respectively), joint angle (r = 0.46; r = 0.5; r = 0.5), and VSR (r = 0.46; r = 0.49; r = 0.5). Thigh skeletal muscle was also correlated with KPS (r = 0.42). All these correlations were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Passive knee extension T-A was found to be moderately correlated with lower limb BC. In particular, thigh perimeter and skeletal muscle mass were associated with knee passive stiffness and viscoelastic stress relaxation. More research is needed to understand what influences joint maximum angle, resistance to stretch and mechanical response to stretching.

A review of adult obesity prevalence, trends, risk factors, and epidemiologic methods in Kuwait

OBJECTIVE

Kuwait is among the countries with the highest obesity rates worldwide; however, little is known about the state of obesity epidemiology research in Kuwait. In this paper, we therefore review the findings and methodology of studies on the prevalence, trends and risk factors of obesity in Kuwait.

METHODS

The PubMed database was searched using the keyword combination: obesity and adults and Kuwait. Out of 111 articles, 39 remained after abstract review, and 18 were selected after full-text review.

RESULTS

The studies were all cross-sectional and published in the last fifteen years (1997-2012). The sample size ranged from 177 to 38,611 individuals. Only 30% of studies used random sampling. The prevalence (BMI ≥ 30) in studies with a nationally representative sample ranged from 24% to 48% overall and in adults >50 years was greater than 52%. Rates were significantly higher in women than those in men. Studies that examined trends showed an increase in obesity prevalence between 1980 and 2009. Multiple risk factors including sociocultural factors were investigated in the studies; however, factors were only crudely assessed.

CONCLUSION

There is a need for future studies, particularly surveillance surveys and prospective cohort studies utilizing advanced methods, to monitor trends and to comprehensively assess the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic in Kuwait.

Impact of urbanization on obesity, anthropometric profile and blood pressure in the Igbos of Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Hypertension in developing setting is often attributed to westernization of life style and stresses of urbanization, some of these increases have been noted in Nigeria.

AIM

This is a study on rural-urban differences on the blood pressure, obesity and anthropometrics among a major ethnic group in Nigeria.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A total of 325 men and 242 women aged 20 to 80 years, of the Igbo ethnicity were selected for this study. The samples were selected from the rural and urban subgroups of the Igbo population. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist- hip ratio, waist-height ratio, waist circumference, triceps, subscapular, calf and sum of the three skin fold thicknesses and other anthropometric measurements were obtained using standard procedures.

RESULT

Blood pressure correlated with age and most of the anthropometric parameters (p< 0.05 ). All adiposity and blood pressure indicators were higher in the urban than in the rural sample. Women showed higher predisposition to both general and abdominal obesities in both samples. High blood pressure occurred more often in the urban sample than the rural. Urban men had the highest mean blood pressure (p< 0.05). High blood pressure appeared much connected with the pressures of city life. Regression formulae were derived for all the adiposity measures of Igbos in both rural and urban locations.

CONCLUSION

High rates of obesity and hypertension are noted among Igbos in both rural and urban areas. This is especially in the urban setting. The finding is indicative of a low level of attention on hypertension and obesity in the Igbos. The data reported here call for intervention programs on the risks, preventions and management of obesity and obesity related conditions.

Impact of education on obesity and blood pressure in developing countries: A study on the Ibos of Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Increase in the prevalence of hypertension, obesity and obesity related diseases has become significant cause of disability and premature death in both developing and newly developed countries, with over bearing demand on national health budgets.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of various levels of education on obesity and blood pressure.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

325 male and 254 female Nigerians of ages 20-80 years of the Ibo ethnicity through random sampling, were selected for this study. The participants were broken into three major groups based on their educational levels; primary, secondary and tertiary levels. systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP & DBP) levels, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), waist height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC),various skin fold thicknesses, and other anthropometric parameters were measured.

RESULT

For all the indicators of subcutaneous fat, general obesity, and central obesity, largest mean deposition was noted to be highest in the lowest education group and least in the highest education group. Mean blood pressure parameters were also highest in the least education group. While fat deposition was noted to be highest in all the females of all the groups, the males showed larger mean BP values. Education was noted to have a significant inverse relationship with most of the fat indicators and blood pressure parameters and cardiovascular disease risk highest in the least education groups.

CONCLUSION

Education showed a significant impact on obesity and blood pressure and could be one of the major tools to reduce the high prevalence of obesity, hypertension and other obesity associated diseases.