AUTHOR=Elkum Naser , Alarouj Monira , Bennakhi Abdullah , Shaltout Azza 

TITLE=The Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2019.00072

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A cross-sectional sample of 6–18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured from 6,574 Arab Kuwaiti schoolchildren, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were defined in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (aged 6–18 years) were 17.7% and 33.7%, respectively. The likelihood of childhood obesity increased with birth weights &gt;4.0 Kg [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.0001], maternal employment (OR = 1.26, <italic>p</italic> = 0.0006), maternal age at pregnancy &gt;30 years (OR = 1.24; <italic>p</italic> = 0.0016) and family size of &lt;6 members (OR = 1.16, <italic>p</italic> = 0.0106).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Public health professionals should be aware that advanced maternal age, maternal employment, smaller family size, and high birthweight may predict the risk of obesity in Kuwaiti Arab children and adolescents.</p>