Background. The increasing rate of obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents is associated with immediate and long term-risks to their health and well-being.Objective.

Objective: The present study was designed to assess physical activity, sedentary behaviours and dietary habits among adolescents in Kuwait and to compare the differences between genders. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary-school children who participated in the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS), a multi-centre collaborative project. Setting: Secondary schools in Kuwait. Subjects: Adolescents (463 boys and 443 girls), aged 14-19 years. Results: Nearly half (44?6 %) of the boys and three-quarters (76?0 %) of the girls did not meet the recommended daily physical activity levels ($2520 MET-min/week, moderate to vigorous intensity). Nearly all (96?3 % of boys and 96?7 % of girls) adolescents reported spending .2 h/d on screen time, with girls found to spend more time per day watching television (P 5 0?02) and using a computer (P , 0?001). The large majority of the adolescents reported skipping breakfast and not having milk and milk products, vegetables and fruit daily, while nearly two-thirds of the boys and girls had sugar-sweetened drinks on more than 3 d/week. Compared with girls, boys reported consuming more fruit (3?4 v. 2?8 times/week, P 5 0?001), dairy products (4?5 v. 3?6 times/week, P 5 0?001) and energy drinks (1?3 v.

BackgroundAdolescent obesity is a growing public health problem in Kuwait. Reducing obesity can lower the risk of several chronic diseases. Fourteen obese adolescent boys volunteered to participate in a 6-month multidimensional television series on weight loss.MethodsThe adolescent boys were recruited through advertisements in schools. The program included counseling sessions, nutritional education, exercise, family support, peer group involvement, and incentives designed to motivate participants.ResultsThe mean age of the boys was 15.6 ± 0.8 years. On average, subjects lost 10.6 ± 8.9 kg in weight and gained 3.3 ± 1.6 cm in height during the study period. The difference in mean body mass index at baseline and at 6 months following intervention was significant (P < 0.001) at 36.8 ± 4.6 and 32.0 ± 5.4, kg/m2 respectively. Participants ranked counseling as the most important component of the program, followed by family support and type of program.ConclusionThis type of television series could be used as a model for future public health programs to prevent and control obesity among adolescents.