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The prevalence and potential determinants of obesity among school children and adolescents in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

International Journal of Obesity volume 37, pages 68–74 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives:

To estimate the prevalence and determinants of obesity in childhood and adolescence and their association with blood pressure (BP) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Design:

A cross-sectional population-representative study.

Subjects:

A total of 1541 students (grades 1–12; aged 6–19 years) were randomly selected from 246 schools (50% male). Anthropometric and demographic variables were measured, and CDC criteria were used to classify children’s weights.

Results:

A total of 1440 (93%) students provided complete results. Crude prevalences were: 7.6% underweight, 14.7% overweight and 18.9% obesity. Further analyses were restricted to UAE nationals (n=1035), of whom these figures were: 8.3% underweight (females 6.5%, males 10.1%; P=0.06), 14.2% overweight (females 16.7%, males 11.6%; P<0.01), 19.8% obesity (females 18.1%, males 21.4%; P=0.09). Obesity significantly (P<0.001) increased with age. The majority (61.3%) of students had body mass index (BMI) percentiles above the 50th CDC percentile. Stepwise linear regression of BMI percentile on age, sex, dairy consumption, exercise and family income showed a significant (P<0.01) positive association with age and lack of dairy consumption, but not exercise and income. BP significantly (P<0.01) increased with BMI percentile.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of childhood obesity is high across the age spectrum in the UAE. Older age, male sex, lack of dairy intake and higher parental BMI, are independent determinants of childhood obesity in this population. Higher BMI percentile is associated with a higher BP. Prevention strategies should focus on younger children, particularly children of obese parents. Longitudinal studies are needed to investigate trends and the impact of childhood obesity on the risk of non-communicable diseases.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from Medical Services Corps, UAE Armed Forces. We wish to thank Brig. Dr Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of Medical Services Corps, and Professor Mohamed YH Baniyas, Provost, UAE University, for their support in providing much needed resources during the course of this research. We also wish to thank Professor Masood Badri, Head of Research, Planning & Performance Management and Dr Mubarak Al Darmaki, Manager, Health Management Section, Abu Dhabi Education Council for facilitating the recruitment process. We wish to thank Dr Ali Al Obaidli, Director, Clinical Affairs; Dr Najah Mustapha; Director of School Health and Dr Jamal Aljubeh, Pediatric endocrinologist, Abu Dhabi Health Services Co (SEHA) for their invaluable advice. Our gratitude goes to the volunteers (students and parents) and the school nurses who participated in the data collection process.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    A Al Junaibi

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    A Abdulle

  3. Department of Psychiatric, College of Medicine, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    S Sabri

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    M Hag-Ali

  5. Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates

    N Nagelkerke

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  1. A Al Junaibi
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Correspondence to A Al Junaibi.

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Al Junaibi, A., Abdulle, A., Sabri, S. et al. The prevalence and potential determinants of obesity among school children and adolescents in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Int J Obes 37, 68–74 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.131

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