Obesity prevention interventions in Saudi Arabian childrenbuilding the evidence base: An in-depth analysis of sociodemographic characteristics and dietary habits of obese and normal weight schoolchildren

Abstract

Background: A better understanding of the relationships between obesity, socio-demographic variables and eating practices is necessary for effective obesity prevention. Our study aimed to provide an in-depth investigation into the food habits and consumption trends, in urban socio-demographic obese and normal weight Saudi Arabian children. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016, in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. Participants were divided into groups (obese, normal weight), and further stratified by sex. The total cohort comprised of 1023 children, aged 9.00 to 11.99 years, and 2046 parents/ guardian. Participants in each group were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster-sampling technique. A self-paced questionnaire collected data of: weight; height; waist-circumference; BMI; and body fat composition in children. In parents, only weight, height, and BMI were recorded.

Breakfast Eating Habits and Lifestyle Behaviors among Saudi Primary School Children Attending Public Versus Private Schools

“…Given our finding that the child’s desire was the most influencing factor, we can assume that Saudi children enjoy at least some level of autonomy in choosing their own foods, although the extent of such autonomy of children choosing their own breakfast items at home is yet unclear. The analysis of the dietary habits of normal-weight and obese children in Saudi Arabia also found that children who ate breakfast at home had higher odds of obesity, indicating that the breakfast quality of obese children is possibly suboptimal [ 46 ]. This leaves room for future interventions to include children in addition to parents in order to educate all family members about healthy breakfast options.…”

“…Parental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding healthy food and proper child nutrition directly and strongly influence their children’s dietary quality and eating habits [ 48 ]. Higher parental knowledge of healthy eating and active implementation of such knowledge in the home was associated with decreased child obesity risk in Riyadh [ 46 ]. This area requires in-depth exploration of Saudi parenting styles and other cultural factors involved in order to design tailored interventions to improve parental knowledge about diet quality, correct misperceptions regarding food, and educate them about appropriate child-feeding practices [ 48 ].…”

Comparative evidence of the consumption from fast-food restaurants between normal-weight and obese Saudi schoolchildren

“…Socio-economic data from this cohort are described in detail in our previous study ( 24 ) . Briefly, parental education had no significant associations on children’s weight.…”

“…Moreover, logistic regression revealed that the knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents and their children towards the consumption of fast foods appeared to be associated with the occurrence of normal weight and/or obesity among Saudi Arabian children. Socio-economic data from this cohort are described in detail in our previous study (24) . Briefly, parental education had no significant associations on children's weight.…”

Overweight and Obesity in Saudi Arabia: Consequences and Solutions

“…A recent study confirmed a significant difference in the mean daily energy intake between girls ages 8-11 years with obesity (intake of 2,677 plus or minus 804 kilocalories per day) and normal weight (intake of 1,806 plus or minus 403 kilocalories per day) (Al-Kutbe et al 2017). The number of calories consumed per day was found to differ significantly between Saudi children ages 9-12 years who have obesity and those who have normal weight, with daily energy intake being higher by about 300 kilocalories among children with obesity (Alturki, Brookes, and Davies 2018b).…”