A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Health Behaviors between Saudi and British Adolescents Living in Urban Areas: Gender by Country Analyses

Abstract

This study investigated the cross-cultural differences and similarity in health behaviors between Saudi and British adolescents. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted at four cities in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Al-Khobar; N = 1,648) and Britain (Birmingham and Coventry; N = 1,158). The participants (14–18 year-olds) were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included anthropometric, screen time, validated physical activity (PA) questionnaire and dietary habits. The overweight/obesity prevalence among Saudi adolescents (38.3%) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that found among British adolescents (24.1%). The British adolescents demonstrated higher total PA energy expenditure than Saudi adolescents (means ± SE = 3,804.8 ± 81.5 vs. 2,219.9 ± 65.5 METs-min/week). Inactivity prevalence was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among Saudi adolescents (64%) compared with that of British adolescents (25.5%). The proportions of adolescents exceeding 2 h of daily screen time were high (88.0% and 90.8% among Saudis and British, respectively). The majority of Saudi and British adolescents did not have daily intakes of breakfast, fruit, vegetables and milk. MANCOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) gender by country interactions in several lifestyle factors. There was a significant (p < 0.001) gender differences in the ratio of physical activity to sedentary behaviors. In conclusion, Saudi and British adolescents demonstrated some similarities and differences in their PA levels, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescents appear to be a cross-cultural phenomenon.

Anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics of active and inactive saudi and british adolescents

“…Urbanization and related environmental determinants, including street networks engineered to discourage walking, may also have acted to deter physically active lifestyles in Saudi Arabia (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a). In addition, the hot and dusty environment adds another factor that discourages outdoor physical activity (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a).…”

“…Urbanization and related environmental determinants, including street networks engineered to discourage walking, may also have acted to deter physically active lifestyles in Saudi Arabia (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a). In addition, the hot and dusty environment adds another factor that discourages outdoor physical activity (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a). Conversely, the environment in Britain may be more conducive to outdoor physical activity and whilst the British cities used in this study are heavily urbanized, their urban design shows greater street connectivity, provision of pedestrianized areas and walkways than is the case for Saudi Arabia (International Monetary fund, 2012).…”

“…There are also contrasting climatic and built environments between the UK and Saudi Arabia which may influence physical activity and sedentary behaviours in different ways between the countries (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a). Furthermore, cultural differences between the UK and Saudi Arabia have largely resulted in Saudi females having fewer opportunities for PA and increased opportunity for screen based sedentary behaviours compared to Saudi males and to their British peers (Al-Hazzaa et al, 2013a). This study therefore sought to build on prior research in the area by comparing the anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics of active and inactive adolescents in Saudi Arabia and Britain.…”

Cross-Cultural Variation in BMI, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity in International School Girls Residing in Saudi Arabia

“…Although they are two different behavioral domains representing two separate constructs, not merely functional opposites, they have an independent association with the various risk factors of non-communicable diseases [15,16].The two behavioral tendencies such as low physical activity and more sedentary lifestyle can have a significant influence on their inherent sociocultural factors. Recent studies showed that childhood lifestyle behavior may be influenced by socio-cultural and environmental factors [17,18]. Therefore, the patterns of energy expenditure may vary according to their diverse experiences of lifestyle, especially in developed countries when compared to developing countries.…”

Internet Reflections on Teenagers

“…A late study has uncovered that young people who utilize the Internet pathologically will probably create melancholy than the individuals who don't. Obsessive (uncontrolled or absurd) utilization of Internet has been connected with relationship issues, physical sick wellbeing, forceful practices and other psychiatric side effects [69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83].…”