Urgent Need for Adolescent Physical Activity Policies and Promotion: Lessons from "Jeeluna"

Body weight modification experience among adolescents from Saudi Arabia

Background

Childhood malnutrition is a public health issue in developing countries, leading to a double burden of malnutrition, which is associated with both overweight and underweight.

Objective

To assess body weight satisfaction and perception as well as body weight modification experiences, among adolescents from Saudi Arabia.

Method

This study utilized a cross-sectional design targeting adolescents who attempted to modify their body weight. A questionnaire was constructed to measure their demographics, body weight satisfaction and perception, and experience concerning their weight modification attempts. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the ability to modify weight and maintain the modification according to the ability to set an appropriate weight target based on the age and height of the adolescents, method of weight modification, and receipt of support to modify weight.

Results

A total of 285 adolescents were recruited. More than half of the sample were female (58%); most respondents were secondary school students (73%). Nearly 45% had abnormal body weight where 12.6% were underweight, and 32.3% were overweight or obese. Most of the recruited sample were unsatisfied with their body weight (63%). Although 52% of the adolescents had a normal BMI, only 35% perceived their body weight as normal. Nearly 75% of the sample were able to modify their body weight. However, a smaller proportion were able to maintain the modification they achieved. The most frequently selected body weight modification method was dieting (83%), followed by exercise (69%). Only 40 adolescents (14%) reported consulting a physician regarding their body weight modification attempts. The most frequently reported source of support for weight modification was the family (51%), while the lowest frequency of support was reported concerning schools' contribution (29%). Upon assessing factors associated with the ability to modify weight or maintain the modification, a higher frequency of adolescents who indicated they employed dieting behavior were able to maintain the modification compared to other weight modification practices (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of collaboration between families, schools, and healthcare services to improve adolescent body image and ensure the adoption of healthy body weight modification practices among adolescents.

Scoping Review of Population-Based Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid development of the built environment and implementing policy changes to promote physical activity (PA) and reduce sedentary behavior (SB) among its population. In light of these developments, this scoping review systematically summarized population levels of PA/SB in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

The authors searched 6 databases on December 13, 2021, for articles published in English or Arabic from 2018 to the search date. Studies using population-based sampling in Saudi Arabia and measuring PA/SB were included.

RESULTS

Of the 1272 records found, 797 were screened, and 19 studies (9 on children/adolescents age 6-19 y and 10 on adults age 15-75 y) were included. All studies were cross-sectional in design, and 18 studies collected data at only one point in time, ranging from 2009 to 2020. A total of 18 studies relied on self-reporting to assess PA/SB using a variety of questionnaires. Among children/adolescents, approximately 80% to 90% did not attain at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous PA and 50% to 80% engaged in ≥2 hours per day of screen time or SB. Among adults, approximately 50% to 95% had low or insufficient PA (eg, less than meeting PA guidelines) and about half had a sitting time of ≥5 hours per day. Population-based studies were not found among children <10 years and adults >75 years.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of participants in the reviewed studies did not meet PA recommendations and spent excessive time in SB. Ongoing surveillance efforts for all ages may help identify target populations for interventions and prioritize the national strategy on PA/SB in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence and factors associated with dyslipidemia among adolescents in Saudi Arabia

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Screening for dyslipidemia at an early age is essential to prevent and control its consequences. This study aimed to determine prevalence of dyslipidemia and its correlates among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Data of 5854 adolescents aged 10–19 years from all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia were obtained from the Jeeluna study; a national cross-sectional, multistage stratified cluster sample survey. Dyslipidemia was defined based on the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines for adolescents. We found that a quarter of Saudi adolescents have dyslipidemia (males: 33.3%, females: 17.9%). Significant variation was observed by region (p < 0.001). Prevalence of abnormal Total Cholesterol was 6.7%, LDL-C 7.1%, HDL-C 12.8%, Non-HDL-C 8.3%, and Triglycerides 9.6%. Factors independently associated with dyslipidemia were male gender (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.78–2.70, p < 0.001), BMI (underweight OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.94, overweight OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.50–2.06, obese OR = 2.80, 95% CI 2.34–3.34, p < 0.001, vs. normal) and serum ferritin (high OR = 7.02, 95% CI 1.49–34.79, low OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.67–1.01, p = 0.04 vs. normal) and ≥ 1 daily intake of carbonated beverage (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.00–1.20, p = 0.03 vs. no or not daily intake). Public health interventions for improving lipid profile of adolescents are urgently needed.

Personal, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity and sport participation in an adolescent Turkish population

Background

Benefits of physical activity has been shown for adolescents; however, there is a decline trend in number of adolescents meeting current WHO recommendations. This trend underlines the importance of identifying factors associated with adolescents’ physical activity level (PAL) with considerations of regional and cultural differences to plan and implement effective policies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine personal, ecological, and social factors associated with PAL and sport participation in Turkish adolescents aged 11–14 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted by including 996 adolescents aged between 11 and 14 years from 39 secondary schools in İstanbul, Turkey. Logistic regression analyses performed to identify the significant personal (age, gender, sleep time, screen time, BMIz score, having siblings), ecological (presence of playground, type of school transportation), and social (family income, engaging a physical activity with family, and preferred activity at school breaks) predictors of PAL and sport participation.

Results

Adolescents who were active during break time at school (p < 0.001), engaging a physical activity with family (p < 0.001), and did not have a sibling (p = 0.029) were more likely to be physically active. Adolescents behaved active during break time at school (p < 0.001), had a playground at home (p < 0.001), spending time with family for physical activity (p < 0.001), and did not have a sibling (p = 0.021) were more likely to participate in a sport activity.

Conclusions

Predictors of PAL in this study indicates the need to promote active break time in school, increased physical activity time with family, and to design environmental policies to increase number of playgrounds.

Physical Activity for Health and Wellness

Regular physical activity (PA) is both a preventive measure and a cure for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [...].