Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether body mass index (BMI), eating habits and sedentary behaviours were associated with sleep duration among Kuwaiti adolescents. The study is part of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS), which is a school-based cross-sectional multi-center collaborative study. A sample of 906 adolescents (boys and girls) aged 14-19 years was randomly selected from 6 Kuwaiti Governances using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. The findings revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 50.5% in boys and 46.5% in girls. The majority of boys (76%) and of girls (74%) fell into the short sleep duration category (6 hours/day or less). Sleep duration were found to be negatively associated with BMI (girls only). Watching television (boys and girls) and working on computers (boys only) were also negatively associated with sleep duration. While the consumption of breakfast (both genders) and milk (boys only) was positively associated with sleep duration (p<0.05). In contrast, the consumption of fast foods (both genders), sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets (boys only) potatoes (girls only) were negatively associated with sleep duration (p<0.05). It can be concluded that the majority of Kuwaiti adolescents exhibit insufficient sleep duration which was associated with obesity measure, a combination of poor eating habits and more sedentary behaviors. The findings also suggest gender differences in these associations. Therefore, adequate sleep is an important modifiable risk factor to prevent obesity and was positively associated with some unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Highlights
Obesity in children and adolescents is an increasing worldwide health problem on both physical and psychological health (UN, 2008)
The aim of this study was to investigate whether body mass index (BMI), eating habits and sedentary behaviours were associated with sleep duration among Kuwaiti adolescents
It can be concluded that the majority of Kuwaiti adolescents exhibit insufficient sleep duration which was associated with obesity measure, a combination of poor eating habits and more sedentary behaviors
Summary
Obesity in children and adolescents is an increasing worldwide health problem on both physical and psychological health (UN, 2008). Despite considerable attempts to control obesity worldwide in recent years, its prevalence has raised dramatically, especially among Kuwaitis adolescents (Al-Haifi et al, 2013). The high prevalence of obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents is largely due to the rapid socio-economic growth, including changing in eating habits, which characterized by the availability and consumption of fast food, irregular meal pattern, skipping breakfast, decreased intakes of fibre, and increase intakes of sweets and sugars (Musaiger et al, 2013; Al-Haifi et al, 2013; Zaghloul et al, 2013). It is likely that any relationship between poor eating habits, physical activity and body mass index (BMI) is moderated through other lifestyle behaviors
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