Overweight and obesity are becoming increasingly prevalent among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia and are an emerging cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Lifestyle factors, such as insufficient levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviors, are responsible for the increased prevalence of NCDs. This study aimed to determine the association between physical activity levels, sedentary behaviors, and anthropometric measurements in Saudi female adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 399 healthy female adolescent students aged 13–14 years in Arar, Saudi Arabia. The participants were randomly selected from different schools and their anthropometric measurements were determined. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ) were used to assess their physical activity levels and sedentary behaviors, and an analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS software version 25. A multiple linear regression model was used to determine the association between the variables. The majority of the participants had a normal body mass index (BMI; 79.4%) and waist circumference (WC; 62.4%). A total of 74.4% had waist to height ratio (WHtR) < 0.5. About 92.7% of the participants were not meeting PA recommendations of 60 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. The overall mean time spent on sedentary activities was high on both weekdays and weekend days at 357.64 ± 86.29 and 470.51 ± 147.64 min/day, respectively. Moreover, anthropometric measurement (BMI) was positively associated with age and negatively associated with sedentary behavior on weekends, while WHtR was positively associated with age. The multiple linear regression analysis also showed that age and sedentary behavior significantly predicted BMI among the study participants (F (2, 396) = 4.346, p < 0.014) and age was the only significant predictor of WHtR (F (1, 397) = 16.191, p ≤ 0.001). This study revealed that most of the female Saudi adolescents undertook low levels of activity and high levels of sedentary behaviors. Sedentary behaviors were significantly associated with their BMI. Accordingly, an intervention program on healthy lifestyles is important to improve Saudi female adolescents’ lifestyles.

Background: This cluster-randomized study aimed to evaluate the effects of an intervention focused on physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception among girls in intermediate schools in Saudi Arabia. A seminar was delivered to the mothers of the girls in the experimental group. The experimental group then attended six interactive sessions within 3 months featuring physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception, followed by a 3-month follow-up period. A total of 138 respondents (68 in the experimental group and 70 in the control group) completed the intervention. Each participant’s body mass index-for-age z-score and waist circumference were measured, and they completed a physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image perception questionnaires before and after the intervention and at the follow-up. The intervention was evaluated using within- and between-groups generalized estimating equations. There were no significant changes in the respondents’ body mass index-for-age z-score or waist circumference (p > 0.05). However, immediate significant improvements were seen in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image satisfaction among the experimental group, and these improvements remained at follow-up (p < 0.001). These differences were more significant among the experimental group than among the control group. We found this intervention effective. Future studies can adapt this intervention for adolescent boys and extend its duration to improve the body mass index outcome.

This study assesses sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake and body image dissatisfaction (BID) among Saudi adolescent girls. A total of 399 girls ages 13-14 were randomly selected from intermediate schools in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Data on anthropometric measurements, sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake and body image (BI) were collected. Multiple linear regression was used to predict the association between variables. Most adolescents had a normal weight based on their body mass index (BMI), normal waist circumference (WC), and normal waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Fried chicken and Kabsa rice were the most frequently consumed foods; most girls consumed excessive fat. Most girls had BID (81.5%), and 51.4% desired to lose weight. BMI was positively correlated with age and current BI (p<0.001) and negatively associated with dairy product intake (p=0.004) and desired BI (p<0.001). WC had a positive association with age (p=0.001) and current BI (p<0.001) and a negative association with dairy product intake, cereal and grain intake (p=0.001) and ideal BI (p<0.001). WHtR was positively associated with current BI (p<0.001) and negatively associated with cereal and grain intake (p=0.005), dairy product intake and desired BI (p<0.001). Although most participants had a normal weight, they consumed excessive fat and were dissatisfied with their BI, which are significant predictors of obesity. Saudi adolescent girls require nutritional interventions to help them transition to a healthy diet, positive BI and healthy lifestyle.