Students In Qatar Research Articles

Construct validity and reliability of the scales for rating the behavioral characteristics of superior students among a sample of elementary students in Qatar

This study tested the construct validity and reliability of the Scales for Rating the Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students (SRBCSS) with the purpose to have a valid and reliable measure to identify the gifted individuals. The sample consisted of 176 superior students from grades five and six in Qatar. The results revealed a high consistency in rating the students by their teachers. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the items clustered around the 12 subscales. Also, the indicators in form of parcels produced 12 factors and two second-order factors that represent learning/personal and verbal/artistic characteristics. The results showed that those major characteristics are highly correlated and provided support to the convergent validity of the subscales. The implication of these results indicate that the subscales can be used collectively or separately to assess students’ characteristics of superiority in the Arab milieu.

Epidemiology of tobacco use in Qatar: Prevalence and its associated factors.

Tobacco use is a serious public health concern as it causes various deleterious health problems. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tobacco use and various types of tobacco used among a population-based sample of adults 18 years and above in Qatar (residents and expatriates). The study also attempted to assess tobacco use initiation age, tobacco dependency, and to identify factors associated with current tobacco use. This 2019 cross-sectional study was conducted among governmental employees and University students in Qatar using cluster sampling methodology. Study participants completed a self-administered, country-adapted summarized version of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. 25.2% (n = 1741; N = 6904) of the surveyed sample reported current tobacco use. 21.5% (n = 1481) smoked tobacco (cigarettes, waterpipe, medwakh and cigar) concomitant with other forms of tobacco and only 1.0% (n = 69) were using other forms of tobacco (electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and heat-not-burn tobacco products) and 2.7% (n = 191) did not mention the type of tobacco products used by them. Of the 1550 tobacco users, 42.8% were cigarette smokers, 20.9% waterpipe, 3.2% medwakh (Arabic traditional pipe) and 0.7% cigar. Moreover, 1.9% reported smokeless tobacco use (sweika), 2.0% electronic cigarette use, and 0.3% heat-not-burn tobacco use. The mean age for smoking initiation was 19.7±5.3 (Qataris 18.6±4.8 and non-Qataris 20.3±5.6). Using multivariable logistic regression, significant association was observed between tobacco use and gender, nationality, age, monthly income, living with a smoker, and self-rated health. This large population-based cross-sectional survey provides the first evidence for the prevalence of different types of tobacco use including medwakh smoking among adults (Qataris and non-Qataris) 18 years and above in Qatar. This can serve as a baseline for future research studies on the topic. Based on the review of previous and current tobacco survey findings, it is evident that the prevalence of tobacco use (current) in Qatar has declined suggesting that tobacco control measures implemented by the country have been effective in reducing tobacco consumption.

From English as the medium to English as a medium: Perspectives of EMI students in Qatar

This study examined student attitudes toward the use of Arabic in English-medium instruction (EMI) in an international branch campus (IBC) in Qatar. A questionnaire was used to elicit attitudes of 57 engineering students (44 Arabic L1; 13 non-Arabic L1) taking EMI courses. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a one-sample t-test, and a qualitative analytic deduction approach. Overall, findings showed that students generally welcomed Arabic in this IBC and were supportive of English as a medium of instruction rather than a monolingual conception of EMI. For non-Arabic L1 students specifically, data revealed that despite not speaking the language, the students held neutral views toward Arabic use in the IBC courses. Data on Arabic L1 student attitudes in various academic courses that compose the degree program showed that Arabic use was most favored in political science/history and least favored in math. The Arabic L1 students indicated positive attitudes toward the use of Arabic during class discussions but held neutral to negative attitudes toward its use in lectures, readings, and assignments. In light of the findings, policymakers, university administrators, and IBC instructors are encouraged to implement practices that align with English as a medium of instruction rather than a monolingual EMI.

How green our future would be? An investigation of the determinants of green purchasing behavior of young citizens in a developing Country

Research on green purchasing behavior (GPB) has demonstrated significant progress in the past few years. However, there are still several influential factors in various contextual settings that demand further research. Additionally, the bulk of research in this area focused on developed countries, while there has been a dearth of research conducted on the context of GPB to determine its antecedents in the developing nations. This study aims to bridge this gap in the literature by investigating the determinants of GPB in Qatar through the development of an integrated model by assimilating various theories, like the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Stern’s Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) and Cognition-Affection-Behavioral (CAB). This study employed a survey questionnaire to collect the data from 251 university students in Qatar and was analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equations Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach. The findings unveiled that GPB is directly influenced by green attitudes, green social influence and green perceived behavioral control (PBC). In addition, variables such as perceived consumer effectiveness, knowledge about the green products, green initiatives by the government, significantly, though indirectly, influence GPB. Other variables such as green values, awareness of the environmental outcomes, ascription responsibility, perceived consumer effectiveness, knowledge of green products, government green initiatives, exert some influence on other variables in the model. Thus, the developed model offers crucial insights to the policymakers who are concerned with the design of green policies and strategies. It might be of great value to practitioners to align their production and service operations aimed at serving the trend of the potential consumers who are becoming more environmentally friendly in course of time.

Mental Health during the First-Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Examining Perceived Stress among Qatar University Students

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic had a global impact on many different levels including but not limited to economic, morbidity, social… and mental health. Hence, a lot of focus was given to research mental health aspect of the pandemic especially among young adults and university students. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess whether or not students at the Qatar University perceived stress significantly experienced an increase in mental health signs and symptoms such as depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was conducted among the Qatar University students, using three questionnaires: 1) Sociodemographic questionnaire; 2) Perceived Stress Scale (PSS, to assess perceived stress); and the 3) DASS-21 (to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress). Results: Our results show that perceived stress was a predictor of anxiety, depression and stress following the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic among University students in Qatar. There were no significant differences in the mean scores of depression, anxiety, stress or PSS score between genders, different nationalities, having children, and the university year. Similarly having mental health issues, having a family member with mental health issue, testing positive for COVID-19 and eating habits did not correlate with any of the mental health outcomes (depression, stress, perceived stress and anxiety); only lack of exercise was significantly correlated with depression and anxiety. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study sheds light on the effect of perceived stress on depression, anxiety and stress among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also supports the evidence that University students had high levels of mental health issues during the pandemic and therefore there is a need to develop awareness along with interventions to promote mental wellbeing.

Factors associated with perceived stress in Middle Eastern university students

Objective: University students face high levels of stress-related factors, such as an unfamiliar environment, challenging workload, and uncertainty about their ability to succeed. Participants: A total of 370 students in Qatar who consented to participate between February 2017 and February 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed perceived stress [using a validated 4-point perceived stress scale (PSS-4)], as well as diet, exercise, body mass index, sleep, and life satisfaction. Results: Among students aged 18–39 (mean = 20.1 ± 3.0 years), PSS-4 scores varied between 0 and 16 (mean = 7.4 ± 3.4). Elevated stress was significantly associated with female sex, country of origin, residing off-campus, eating when bored, lack of self-discipline, disturbed sleep, and low levels of life satisfaction. Furthermore, students with PSS-4 scores above the median level were 2.3 times likelier to report difficulty concentrating on academic work. Conclusion: Elevated stress levels are present in university students in Qatar. Strengthening coping skills may improve health and academic performance.

From Tranquility to Mobility: The Adaptability of Continual Transfer Students

An array of circumstances motivates a student?s reason for school transfer. From being closer to home, to being unsatisfied with the school?s academics, and the list goes on. A student shifting to another school concurs a variance of difficult situations which equally demands a diversified scheme of adaptation. These hardships, if dealt with conscientiously, could yield opportunities for individual breakthrough. This research follows a qualitative method making use of sequential delineation and inductive approach revealing adaptive skills manifested by Senior High School transfer students in Qatar. The transfer students in Qatar effectuated school adjustment by developing their personality, nurturing their relationships, sustaining the environment, and understanding the curriculum. Substantial evidence authenticates that these skills were the most efficient in overcoming the adversities associated with continual school transfer. Thus, transfer students are encouraged to raise their self-awareness through the findings propounded by the study inaugurating integrative methods which could augment their adaptive paradigm and resilience through tough stages in life.

Unity in Diversity: The Assimilation of Culture to Filipino Students in Qatar

Background: The continuous progression of the world has inflicted a multitude of impacts on every nation. Due to the advancement of technology in a globalized world, Exposure to different cultures to various means has become prevalent, especially in a learning environment. Ever since Filipino students mixed in with other ethnicities, cultural diversity began to aggravate as international students provided a bank of cultural knowledge to Filipino students. Methods: This research employs a phenomenological approach to the idea of cultural assimilation to determine whether or not Filipinos retain their cultural identity and identify the extent of it. The researchers interviewed Filipino students that have been in contact with other foreign nationalities for an ample amount of time. Findings: The cultural presence of Filipinos are susceptible to changes, especially if adaptation in an unfamiliar environment becomes a necessity in livelihood and lifestyle. Conclusions: Filipino students in the school adapted to a multicultural environment due to the necessity of the circumstance that they have provided with to ensure an undisrupted flow in their learning process. Recommendations: The data and results found in this study could deliver more concrete answers if it utilized a more significant population to analyze the behavior in a more detailed and intricate way from which a more explicit cultural paradigm can form.

The Extent to which Knowledge-based Economy Skills are Included in the Secondary Level Curriculum in Qatar

The present study aimed to analyze the knowledge-based economy skills presented in Islamic Education books studied by high school students in Qatar. The sample for the study included Islamic Education books, analyzed cover to cover, for the eleventh and twelfth grades excluding the introduction, the list of references, and lesson questions. The researcher prepared a content analysis form as the study instrument in accordance with previous studies containing 53 signs apportioned to 11 basic rules. The overall result for this study showed a disparity and a low frequency in the ratio of skills based on the knowledge economy included in the content of Islamic education books for high school students. The most inclusive criteria are in descending order "learning how to learn", "management of information" and “problem-solving". The study’s primary aim was to help develop the content of the Islamic curriculum through current global skill trends for high school students. It is necessary to include rules for the skills needed for a knowledge-based economy in middle and high school Islamic books. The study also recommends other group studies be conducted to complement these conclusions and assessments. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.7.5

The Efficiency of Using the Interactive Smartboard in Social Studies to Increase Students’ Achievement and Tendency Toward the Subject Matter in the State of Qatar

This research aims to determine the effectiveness of the use of interactive smartboard techniques and applications in teaching a unit of a social studies curriculum for preparatory stage students in Qatar. The selected sample (47 students) is distributed into two groups, the experimental group which studied a chosen unit using the interactive smartboard, and the other group, the control group, which studied the same lesson plan conventionally. The two methods administered to the groups, before and after the experiment, are codified through a cognitive performance evaluation using the three stages of Bloom, and a structured assessment of the inclination towards social studies is applied. All groups are taught the same unit, prepared by the same teacher, but with a different method of teaching. To statistically test the research hypotheses, a quantitative comparison between the scores of the two groups before and after the experiment is carried out. The results indicate that the differences between the two groups in average values in favor of the trial group are statistically significant. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.3.1

The Level of Lead (Pb) among Students in Qatar Schools and its Relationship to Academic Achievement and Violent Behavior

Introduction: Lead (Pb) has no any known biological or physiological function in the body. Its accumulation has been associated with various damaging effects, particularly in the nervous system. Study objectives: to measure the lead concentration of two groups of school students in Qatar: a group of students with good academic achievement and a group of students with low academic achievement; and to explore different patterns of behavior related to perceptions of violence between student groups and to check if this can be linked to lead exposure. Methods and subjects: a case control study was conducted. Study sample included 40 schoolchildren students assigned into two groups: group I (N=20) includes students with good academic achievement, and group II (N=20) includes students with bad academic achievements. Urine samples were taken from all students and tested for lead concentration by atomic spectrometer. Study findings: lead concentration in-group I (0.00015±0.00007pg/ml) was significantly lower than that in-group II (0.0114±0.008 pg/ml), (p=0.008). The modes of behaviors in-group II pointed to rioting modes that involve insulting teachers, colleagues and school properties. Conclusions: schoolchildren with bad academic achievements tend to have high levels of lead, which is expected to influence their modes of behaviors.

Students’ reflective journaling: an impactful strategy that informs instructional practices in an EFL writing university context in Qatar

ABSTRACT Reflective journals are used in the literature to promote students’ learning, develop writing skills, assess students’ reflection level, promote teachers’ professional development, and gather research data. However, the current research bridges the gap in the literature by exploring the impact of students’ reflective journals on informing instructional practices in an EFL writing context at a university in Qatar. Informed by Gibb’s reflective cycle (1988) (i.e. description, feelings, evaluation, conclusion and action) and social constructionism, the researcher developed a reflective journal to help students reflect on the instructional practices. Using a case study methodology, the researcher collected seventy-eight reflective journals, written by bilingual female university students in Qatar. Data was analysed qualitatively using thematic content analysis. Findings revealed that students preferred the following teaching strategies: gradual teaching, exemplification, discussion, comprehension checking, cooperative learning, and graphic organisers. Findings also showed students’ reported challenges such as strict classroom management, lack of teacher’s electronic feedback, teacher’s frequent questioning, recurrent turn-taking, time mismanagement, lack of handouts, cooperative learning problems, mocking students, ringing mobile phones, unpunctual students and dealing with disruptive students. Implications for instructional practices are provided.

Student feedback experiences in a cross-border medical education curriculum.

ObjectivesTo determine non-Western situated health professional student experiences and preferences for feedback in workplace-based settings. MethodsWe conducted five focus groups with 27 students of Arab-origin enrolled in a Canadian-accredited cross-border pharmacy program in Qatar. Transcripts of recorded discussions were analyzed using the framework method. Hofstede’s and Hall’s cultural dimension models were employed to understand described feedback encounters and behaviours. ResultsWe identified three themes associated with cultural influences on student feedback experiences, namely: 1) collectivism; 2) power distance; and 3) context. Trainees described clinical supervisors who inadequately recognized individual performance, rejected critique, and insufficiently documented feedback onto the written in-training evaluation report. Conversely, students expected specific and timely feedback, invited criticism for learning, and desired clear written commentary. ConclusionsFeedback behaviours of clinical supervisors, but not those of trainees, were consistent with local cultural norms as described by Hofstede and Hall. Instead, feedback expectations of pharmacy students in Qatar largely echo those of other trainees enrolled in professional curricula situated outside the Middle East. Principles for optimal feedback in clinical training largely arise from Western perspectives but are not necessarily universal. Our work demonstrates that practices, in part, may be subject to local socio-cultural influences. This is of particular importance in the experiential training component of cross-border medical education programs adopted by overseas institutions. Our findings also further add to the growing body of literature reporting suboptimal feedback in workplace-based learning, reinforcing the need to cultivate more student-centered practices in health professional training globally.

Does the delivery of interprofessional education have an effect on stereotypical views of healthcare students in Qatar?

ABSTRACTInterprofessional education (IPE) is an evolving educational approach for preparing healthcare professional students to provide patient care in a collaborative team atmosphere. One of the important outcomes to be achieved is understanding the stereotypical views of health professionals held by themselves and by others to eventually reduce negative and harmful stereotypes and to foster an environment of mutual respect and trust amongst healthcare professionals. The primary aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a change in healthcare students’ stereotypical belief about the characteristics of healthcare professionals before and after an IPE activity focused on smoking cessation. The Student Stereotype Rating Questionnaire (SSRQ) was used to assess the students’ stereotype ratings of their professions and other healthcare professions before and after the IPE activity. The ratings were made in relation to nine attributes. Sixty-eight students from five different majors (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Respiratory Therapy) participated in the IPE activity. All the students involved in the activity responded to both the pre and post surveys (response rate, 100%). The participating students‘ combined ratings revealed a significant change in the perspectives of medical, pharmacy, and respiratory therapy students in all of the nine attributes. While for public health students, differences were significant in two aspects: professional competence and practical skills. Three central themes emerged after the IPE session from the open-ended questions: roles and responsibilities, patient-centered care, and integrated healthcare team. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that stereotyping exists among different healthcare profession student groups in Qatar and that IPE can impact both hetero-stereotypes and auto-stereotypes. The positive change in perception following the IPE activity indicates the effectiveness and the value of these short duration IPE activities in negating stereotypical views.

Assessing the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students in a rapidly changing economy

This study aimed to develop and test a model that incorporates insights from two distinct approaches, namely, behavioural and contextual factors, to identify the significant variables influencing the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students in Qatar. This research involved a sample of undergraduate students enrolled in Qatar University. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire containing several groups of questions related to behavioural and contextual constructs and entrepreneurial intention. Results show that personal attitude and perceived behavioural control are the most significant factors for entrepreneurial intention. This study is the first of its kind in Qatar that aims to assess entrepreneurial intention from more than one approach. The research implications are discussed.

Assessment of hepatitis B immunization programme among school students in Qatar.

In 2010, Qatar adopted the target of reducing hepatitis B prevalence to < 1% in children by 2015. The World Health Organization Region for the Eastern Mediterranean is identified with intermediate hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemicity, ranging from 2% to 7%. It is estimated that 4.3 million individuals are living with HBV infection in the Region. This study was conducted to assess hepatitis B seroprevalence in children, hepatitis B vaccination coverage, potential exposure to risk factors, and knowledge among parents/guardians about hepatitis B infection. We carried out this cross-sectional study in Qatar during the academic year 2015/16. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select a nationally representative sample of 2735 grade 1 school students aged ≥ 5 years. Blood was collected by finger prick and tested using the point-of-care test/rapid test. A self-administered, precoded questionnaire was used to assess parent/guardian knowledge about HBV and collect information on the child's HBV vaccination coverage. All blood samples were HBsAg negative. Qataris had a vaccination card and were totally vaccinated but 17.7% of non-Qataris did not hold a vaccination card and most parents/guardians were not aware of the vaccination status of their children. Children were exposed to various hepatitis B risk practices. Knowledge about hepatitis B among parents/ guardians was low. Qatar has averted the hepatitis B threat and maintained high vaccination coverage for children.

Perspectives of pharmacy students in Qatar toward interprofessional education and collaborative practice: a mixed methods study

ABSTRACT In an IPE environment, students are expected to have better understanding of the roles, responsibilities, and contribution of other health care professions to enhance interprofessional working and collaboration with an end result of improving patient-centred and team-based care. Although many studies have investigated students’ attitudes, very few employ a mixed methods design and hardly are from Middle Eastern countries. A two-staged sequential explanatory mixed method design was used to comprehensively capture the perspectives of pharmacy students toward IPE and collaborative practice. A quantitative survey was conducted as the first stage of the study, followed by an in-depth discussion of these perspectives through a qualitative phase by conducting two focus groups. For the quantitative surveys, the overall response rate was 102/132 (77%) for pharmacy students in Qatar. This was followed by two focus groups with a total of 27 participants from senior and junior students. In exploring the qualitative data, three main themes were identified in relation to the pharmacy students’ perspectives. These were on the pharmacy students’ perception on the enablers (professional related benefits, patient-related benefits and current positive influences), barriers (previous IPE experiences, educational related issues and current working practices and processes), and recommendations to implementing IPE and collaborative practice (future IPE and pharmacy profession). Overall, the results demonstrate a strong readiness and positive perception by pharmacy students toward IPE and collaborative practice. This study has highlighted different dimensions in pharmacy students’ perceptions. It also provided a useful insight into the readiness of pharmacy students in a Middle Eastern university. Students are seeking more IPE experiences formally incorporated into their curriculum and hence educators should capitalise on these positive and enthusiastic attitudes to identify the most effective means for delivering IPE and inform curricula planning. Collaborative practice-ready graduates will produce better-educated professionals delivering higher quality care.

Assessing the factor structure and measurement invariance of the eating attitude test (EAT-26) across language and BMI in young Arab women

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to determine the factorial structure and test the measurement invariance of the EAT-26 in a large probability sample of young female university students in Qatar (n = 2692), a Muslim country in the Middle East.MethodsThe maximum number of factors was derived based on results from initial exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in the first-half of the randomly split sample (Sample 1). A subsequent EFA and Exploratory Structural Equation Models (ESEM) were conducted to identify the number of valid factors. A five-factor model with 19 items was identified as the optimal factor structure. This structure was further replicated using ESEM in the second-half of the sample (Sample 2). Multi-group Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) were conducted at this stage and their fit was evaluated with and without further sub-grouping by language (Arabic and English) and BMI (underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese). Finally, measurement invariance tests were conducted in the entire sample assessing equivalence across language and BMI within the final five-factor model.ResultsThe five-factor structure of the new EAT-19 [fear of getting fat (FGF), eating-related control (ERC), food preoccupation (FP), vomiting-purging behavior (VPB), and social pressure to gain weight (SP)] provided the best fit: CFI = 0.976, TLI = 0.952, RMSEA = 0.045 (90%CI 0.039–0.051), SRMR = 0.018, CD =1.000. CFAs supported metric invariance for language and for BMI. Language and BMI-based population heterogeneity comparisons provided modest and small-to-moderate evidence for differential factor means, respectively.ConclusionAlthough the five-factor model of the EAT-19 demonstrated good item characteristics and reliability in this young female population, the lack of scalar invariance across language and BMI-categories pose measurement challenges for use of this scale for screening purposes. Future studies should develop culture- and BMI-specific cut-offs when using the EAT as a screening instrument for disordered eating in non-clinical populations.

Selected psychiatric problems among college students in two Arab countries: comparison with the USA

BackgroundPsychiatric problems among college students on USA campuses are common. Little is known about similar problems in developing countries, particularly the Arab region. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency of selected psychiatric problems among college students in two Arab countries: Qatar and Lebanon, and to compare them to the USA.MethodsThe Healthy Minds Study, an online confidential survey of common psychiatric symptoms designed for college campuses was used. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to screen for major depression, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to screen for generalized anxiety and the SCOFF questionnaire to screen for eating disorders. Comparisons were made using ANOVA, Chi-Square tests and logistic regressions.ResultsA total of 1841 students participated in the study. The rates of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 12), generalized anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) and eating disorders (SCOFF≥3) at the combined Arab universities were 34.6, 36.1 and 20.4% respectively. The corresponding rates in the USA were: 12.8, 15.9 and 6.8% (p < 0.001 for all measures). The impact of psychiatric problems on functioning in general and academic performance in particular was more severe in the Arab countries compared to the USA (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of psychiatric problems in general included location, female gender, financial difficulties and poor grades. Being religious had a protective association with mental health.ConclusionThe rates of depression, anxiety and eating disorders were significantly higher among college students in Qatar and Lebanon compared to the USA. Additional research is needed to determine whether these results reflect methodological limitations or true differences in psychopathology across these populations. If replicated, the results indicate that the psychiatric problems on college campuses in the USA are a microcosm of a global problem that needs global solutions.

The prevalence and characteristics of overweight and obesity among students in Qatar

ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity using World Health Organisation (WHO) cut-offs for the body mass index (BMI) among students of the general population living in Qatar in the period 2015–2016. Study designCross-sectional study. MethodsThe study includes 164,963 students aged 5–19 years. The body weight and height were measured to calculate the BMI. The WHO standard cut-offs were used to categorise the BMI into severe thinness (BMI z-score <−3), thinness (BMI z-score ≥−3 to <−2), normal (BMI z-score ≥−2 to <1), overweight (BMI z-score ≥+1 to <+2) and obese (BMI z-score >+2). ResultsOverweight and obesity prevalence was 44.8% and 40.4% among males and females and 45.6% and 40.9% among Qatari and non-Qatari students, respectively. Odds of obesity and overweight status were significantly higher among 10–14 and 15–19 age groups than 5–9 years age group (P < 0.001). By sex, males had 1.48 times higher odds of having obesity than females (P < 0.001), and Qatari nationals had 1.4 times higher odds of obesity than non-Qataris (P < 0.001). Although non-Qatari males also had higher odds of being overweight than females (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, P = 0.0006), the opposite was seen among Qatari students (OR = 0.95, P = 0.01). ConclusionThe result of this survey provides evidence of a high prevalence of overweight and obese students living in Qatar. Therefore, preventive strategies are essential in this population to lower the incidence of being overweight and obesity.