N Elkum1, M Al-Arouj2, M Sharifi3, A Shaltout2, A Bennakhi2. 1. Sidra Medical and Research Centre, Doha, Qatar. 2. Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait. 3. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity have reached an epidemic in Kuwait, with the highest rate of adult obesity in the region. National estimates of childhood obesity in Kuwait are scarce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Kuwait. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 6-18 years old school children, randomly selected from 244 schools in Kuwait. Anthropometric data was measured from 6574 students in September 2012-June 2013. Overweight and obesity have been defined in accordance with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence estimate overweight was based on the three different systems (CDC = 17.7%, IOTF = 23.3%, WHO = 21.6%). The prevalence of obesity was (CDC = 33.9%, IOTF = 28.2%, WHO = 30.5%). Boys had a higher percentage of obesity regardless of the classification system used. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of childhood obesity is alarmingly high in the State of Kuwait and exceeds the prevalence rates reported from neighbouring countries and from North America.
BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity have reached an epidemic in Kuwait, with the highest rate of adult obesity in the region. National estimates of childhood obesity in Kuwait are scarce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children in Kuwait. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of 6-18 years old school children, randomly selected from 244 schools in Kuwait. Anthropometric data was measured from 6574 students in September 2012-June 2013. Overweight and obesity have been defined in accordance with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence estimate overweight was based on the three different systems (CDC = 17.7%, IOTF = 23.3%, WHO = 21.6%). The prevalence of obesity was (CDC = 33.9%, IOTF = 28.2%, WHO = 30.5%). Boys had a higher percentage of obesity regardless of the classification system used. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of childhood obesity is alarmingly high in the State of Kuwait and exceeds the prevalence rates reported from neighbouring countries and from North America.
Authors: Abdullah Al-Taiar; Nawal Alqaoud; Reem Sharaf Alddin; Faheema Alanezi; Monica Subhakaran; Anne Dumadag; Ahmed N Albatineh Journal: Med Princ Pract Date: 2021-07-19 Impact factor: 1.927
Authors: Ali H Ziyab; Wilfried Karmaus; Khadijah A AlShatti; Manal Al-Kandari; Shaimaa H Hussein; Yaser M Ali Journal: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) Date: 2020-08-25