scholarly journals Physical activity and dietary habits among Moroccan adolescents

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1793-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdeslam Hamrani ◽  
Slimane Mehdad ◽  
Khalid El Kari ◽  
Asmaa El Hamdouchi ◽  
Imane El Menchawy ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to detail the lifestyle (physical activity and dietary habits) of Moroccan adolescents.DesignCross-sectional study undertaken in the framework of the ATLS (Arab Teens Lifestyle Study).SettingPhysical activity and dietary habits were determined using a validated questionnaire in public secondary schools.SubjectsA total of 669 adolescents aged 15·0–19·9 years were randomly recruited from Kenitra, Morocco.ResultsPhysical activity patterns and intensity differed between genders. As anticipated, male adolescents were more active than female adolescents across a typical week and engaged in more vigorous-intensity physical activity than female adolescents, who spent more time than male adolescents in moderate-intensity physical activity. Of particular concern was that one in five of the adolescents surveyed was inactive, with almost 45 % of the sample reporting television viewing for more than 2 h/d and 38 % engaged in computer use for a similar period. From a dietary perspective, most adolescents reported that they do not take breakfast or consume milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. In contrast, most reported consumption of doughnuts, cakes, candy and chocolate more than three times per week and approximately 50 % consumed sugary drinks more than three times per week.ConclusionsBased on a continuation of the self-reported lifestyle behaviours, adolescents in the present study are at risk of developing chronic diseases. Education programmes are urgently needed to assist in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and reduce the likelihood of overweight and obesity and related health risks among young people.

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1078
Author(s):  
Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa ◽  
Nada M. Albawardi

Objective: Undesirable lifestyle behaviors are associated with many adverse health outcomes. This study revisited the lifestyle behaviors, dietary habits, and overweight/obesity status of Saudi adolescents from Riyadh during the year 2019/2020. We report on the rationale, design, and methodology of the current study and provide preliminary findings of the changes that occurred between the two cross-sectional studies within the span of a ten-year period. Methods: A comparison was made between two cross-sectional studies, one conducted in 2009/2010 and the other in 2019/2020, using the same design, methods, and instruments. A multistage stratified cluster random sampling technique was used to select adolescents attending public and private secondary schools. Measurements included demographics, weight, height, waist circumference, physical activity (using valid questionnaire and accelerometer), sedentary time, sleep duration, and dietary habits. Results: The total number of participants was 1262 adolescents, of which 52.4% were male, with a mean (SD) age of 16.4 ± 0.95 years. About 41% of paternal and 39.1% of maternal education levels were university degrees. Over 37% of the families earned more than SAR 20,000/month. Body mass index and waist circumference of males was larger than that of females and the overall prevalence of overweight/obesity was 40.5% with significance (p < 0.001) difference between males (47.3%) and females (32.8%). Between 2009/2010 and 2019/2020 datasets, there were significant changes in age (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), screen time (p < 0.001), moderate-intensity physical activity (p < 0.001), vigorous-intensity physical activity (p < 0.001), total physical activity (p < 0.001), and consumption of breakfast (p = 0.015) and fruits (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The most notable change between the two studies was a significant reduction in the prevalence of physical inactivity among Saudi adolescents, which was due to increased levels of moderate-intensity physical activity among Saudi females, as a result of recent positive sociopolitical changes occurring in the country over the past four years. The findings provided rich information that can be used to explore trends in overweight/obesity, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents over the past ten-year period.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (04) ◽  
pp. 752-758
Author(s):  
Aftab Nazir ◽  
Rabia Arshad Usmani ◽  
Muhammad Sarfraz ◽  
Muhammad Zakria ◽  
Muhammad Umar Ghafoor ◽  
...  

Objectives: To study the pattern of BMI and associated factors in residents of Hussainabad aged 15 years and above. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Hussainabad, Faisalabad. Period: 15th April to 23th August 2017. Material & Methods: A sample of 410 was obtained. Participants were selected by convenience sampling. Data was collected by self-administered questionnaire. Results: Out of total 410 study participants, 250 (61%) were males and 160 (39%) were females. 258 (62.9%) participants were found having BMI in the range of overweight and obesity, 6 (1.4%) participants were underweight and the remaining 146 (36%) participants were having normal BMI range. Amongst 258 overweight/obese people, 83 (20.2%) people were overweight, 112 (27.3%) moderate obese, 30 (7.3%) severe obese and 33 (8.1%) very severe obese. Overall 175 (42.7%) people were suffering from obesity. 249 (60.7%) people were in habit of eating in between meals and 161 (39.3%) were not used to eating in between meals. 95 (23.1%) people eat four times a day and 55 (13.4%) people eat more than four times a day. Likeness and increased frequency of rice and meat [136 (33.2%) and (130 (31.7%)] was more than vegetables and pulses [(91 (22.2%) and (53 (12.9%)] respectively. 157 (38.3%) people were having nocturnal eating habits. 194 (47.3%) admitted of liking the sweets and sweet foods and 170 (41.5%) people admitted of eating more under stressful conditions. 130 (31.7%) participants don’t do any kind of physical activity. Conclusion: This study describes a high frequency of obesity among population of Hussainabad. Numerous health risk practices were identified including unhealthy dietary habits, eating sweet foods, increased meal frequency, snacking behavior and lack of physical activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-223
Author(s):  
Rachele De Giuseppe ◽  
Valeria Calcaterra ◽  
Ginevra Biino ◽  
Noelia Rodriguez ◽  
Anna Gerbaldo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Prevention of childhood obesity is recommended throughout interventions aiming at enhancing healthy dietary habits (DH) and increasing physical activity (PA). OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed at investigating DH and PA, in a sample of Italian children/adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated DH and PA by means of a previously validated questionnaire in 178 children/adolescents (88F/90M, 11.8±2.6 years): 49 normal weight (NW), 76 overweight (OW) and 53 with obesity (OB). Abdominal obesity was defined as Waist to Height Ratio (WHeR) >0.5. RESULTS: DH did not differ in NW subjects compared to OW and OB but higher PA score (p = 0.001) was observed in NW than OW and OB. No association was found between DH and WHeR, unlike PA. Four clusters of subjects were identified that could be defined by DH and PA; only one cluster, defined by PA, showed a significantly lower WHeR within subjects playing sports at least 3–4 hours/week. Moreover, subjects belonging to this cluster did not skip the main meals, eat a varied diet and drank milk at breakfast. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample PA performed at least 3–4 hours/week is inversely associated with abdominal fat deposition and is expected to positively impact health, protecting from abdominal obesity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 460-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Airton J. Rombaldi ◽  
Ana M.B. Menezes ◽  
Mario Renato Azevedo ◽  
Pedro C. Hallal

Objectives:To explore whether participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is associated with participation in occupational, housework, and transport-related physical activity.Methods:Population-based cross-sectional study covering a multistage sample of 972 subjects age 20 to 69 years. Physical activity was measured using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. A LTPA score was calculated as follows: min/wk of walking + min/wk of moderate-intensity physical activity + (min/wk of vigorous-intensity physical activity × 2). Similar scores were generated for each domain. For categorical analyses, the scores were divided into 3 categories: 0 min/wk, 10−149 min/wk, and ≥150 min/wk.Results:The proportion of subjects practicing less than 150 min/wk of physical activity in each domain was: leisure-time (69.8%), occupational (58.3%), housework (35.0%), transportation (51.9%). Subjects with a transport-related physical activity score equal to or above 150 min/wk were 40% less likely to be sedentary in leisure-time in comparison with those who did not practice transport-related physical activity. Housework and occupational physical activity were not related to participation in LTPA.Conclusions:Future physical activity campaigns should focus on other domains instead of LTPA alone, particularly supporting transport-related physical activity as a strategy of health promotion.


Author(s):  
Abdelmounaim Boulhanna, Et. al.

Adolescence represents a very crucial phase in the human life cycle. During this period adolescents develop individual lifestyle habits. as a result, and in the absence of data concerning the above characteristics, in the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region, we leaded a cross-sectional survey of growth ,food and hygiene behaviour conducted among a sample of 812 adolescents, including 404 boys attending school aged 13 to18 years, Furthermore, the objective of this study was also to verify among college students of the region the prevalence of moderate physical activity levels, unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behaviour, in order to determine the risk factors related to the physical inactivity. The prevalence of physical activity was 36.08% (50.0% among boys and 22.06% among girls). Nearly 40% of these adolescents spend more than 2 hours a day in front of the screens. Unhealthy dietary habits are more frequent among adolescents and the majority of them consume Fried potatoes (fries and chips) Doughnuts/cake, Sugary drinks more than three times a week. These results show significant associations between physical activity, sedentary habits and some unhealthy dietary habits.


2020 ◽  
pp. 026010602096086
Author(s):  
Souad Benaich ◽  
Slimane Mehdad ◽  
Zineb Andaloussi ◽  
Saber Boutayeb ◽  
Meryem Alamy ◽  
...  

Background: University life is a crucial period when dietary habits and lifestyle behaviours are formed and may have long-lasting effects on the development of obesity and related chronic diseases. Aim: To investigate the association of overweight/obesity with dietary habits, physical activity, screen time and sleep duration among university students. Methods: A total of 438 students aged 18–26 years were recruited from Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. Anthropometric measurements were assessed using standardized equipment. Data regarding dietary habits, physical and sedentary activities were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 14.8% and 1.6%, respectively. Students who reported frequent consumption (>3 times/week) of fast food, fried potatoes and sugary drinks were more likely to be overweight/obese than peers who did not. Similarly, odds of being overweight/obese were slightly higher among females who reported non-daily intake of fruits and milk or dairy products and among males who ate vegetables less frequently (<7 times/week). Approximately 26% of students were physically inactive, with a higher proportion of females (35.8%) than males (10.7%). Both short and long sleep durations were associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity in males. In contrast, physical inactivity and increased screen time were associated with a slightly reduced risk of overweight/obesity, particularly in females. Conclusions: Overall, unhealthy dietary habits were associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity. A similar trend was also observed between abnormal sleep duration and overweight/obesity in males. Interventions to promote healthy dietary and lifestyle habits and prevent overweight/obesity in this population are needed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Plernta Ethisan ◽  
Ratana Somrongthong ◽  
Jamil Ahmed ◽  
Ramesh Kumar ◽  
Robert S. Chapman

Physical activity in later years of life is not only essential to healthy aging and independent functioning, but it also helps prevent chronic diseases. We aimed this cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of physical activity and associated factors among rural elderly Thais. We conducted this study on a sample of 300 elderly in 2 rural districts of Phranakornsiayutthaya province in Thailand. The mean age of participants were 67.5±6 years and 42% of them did not perform physical activity. Prevalence of vigorous and moderate intensity physical activity was 43.7% and 48.7%, respectively. About 43.7% elderly used any active transport and spent 2.81 hours on sedentary activities, daily. Females and those with enough income were 3.64 and 0.59 times, respectively, less likely to be physically active ( P < .05). Our study concluded that almost half of the rural Thai elderly were physically inactive. Also male and wealthy elderly were less likely to be engaged in physical activity. We recommend for improved efforts to involve rural Thai elderly in physical activity by offering them opportunities for locally relevant recreational and leisure time physical activities, with special focus on males and higher income elderly.


2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 886-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Pedro J Teixeira ◽  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Benedicte Deforche

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate differences in reported physical activity levels and in perceived environmental and psychosocial correlates of activity between Portuguese and Belgian adults; and to analyse the relative contribution of environmental and psychosocial variables in explaining physical activity within different contexts in Portugal and Belgium.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingOne city in Portugal (Oeiras) and one in Belgium (Ghent).SubjectsIn total 526 participants, 247 from Portugal and 279 from Belgium, completed the long International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a validated questionnaire on environmental and psychosocial correlates.ResultsFor the sum of all activities of at least moderate intensity, a significantly higher mean level of activity was found in Belgian adults (P < 0.001). However, comparable percentages of the Belgian (38%) and Portuguese (42%) samples did not meet the recommendation of 30 min per day. The variance explained by environmental factors was lower (1% to 8%) than by psychosocial factors (maximum 42%). Regression analyses showed activity-specific relations with environmental variables which were analogous in both countries. Walking/cycling for transportation and walking for recreation were related to social support from family and/or friends and to walkability and walking facilities in the neighbourhood. Recreational physical activity was mainly determined by social support, self-efficacy, and perceived benefits and barriers.ConclusionsActivity campaigns addressing psychosocial determinants are needed to encourage leisure-time activity, while a combination of neighbourhood design changes and encouragement of social support in walking is warranted to increase walking in different contexts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Hamid El Oirdi ◽  
Amina Bouziani ◽  
Aziz El Oirdi ◽  
Jaouad Mostyafi ◽  
Abdeslam Hamrani ◽  
...  

In Morocco, noncommunicable diseases were responsible for 80% of all deaths in 2016. These risk factors are closely related to diet and physical activity. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating habits among a sample of Moroccan adolescents aged 14 to 19 years.This is a cross-sectional study involving a sample of 669 (285 boys and 384 girls) recruited during the year 2019 in the Province of Sidi Kacem-Morocco. Data on sedentary behaviors, physical activity and eating habits were collected using a validated questionnaire. Overall, 38% of Moroccan adolescents did not meet the recommended duration of one hour of moderate-intensity physical activity, boys are generally more active than girls (p<0.00), and 36% of adolescents reported watching TV for more than 2 hours/day and 42% used a computer for a similar period. Girls are more sedentary than boys (p=0.005). For eating habits, there were significantly more boys than girls who met the recommended scores for healthier foods, but there were significantly more girls than boys who exceeded the score of three days of intake per week for unhealthiest foods. The prevalence of sedentary behavior, physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits appear to be moderately high, but physical and nutritional education programs are needed to promote an active living and a healthy eating.


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