IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v9y2012i4p1490-1506d17209.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Amongst British and Saudi Youth: A Cross-Cultural Study

Author

Listed:
  • Yahya Al-Nakeeb

    (School of Human Sciences, Newman University College, Genners Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 3NT, UK)

  • Mark Lyons

    (School of Human Sciences, Newman University College, Genners Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 3NT, UK)

  • Peter Collins

    (School of Human Sciences, Newman University College, Genners Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 3NT, UK)

  • Anwar Al-Nuaim

    (School of Human Sciences, Newman University College, Genners Lane, Bartley Green, Birmingham, B32 3NT, UK)

  • Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa

    (Exercise Physiology Laboratory, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2458, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Michael J. Duncan

    (Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, James Starley Building, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK)

  • Alan Nevill

    (School of Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus, Gorway Road, Walsall, WS1 3BD, UK)

Abstract

This study explores differences in weight status, obesity and patterns of physical activity (PA) in relation to gender and age of youth from two culturally, environmentally and geographically diverse countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and Saudi Arabia (SA). A total of 2,290 males and females (15–17 years) volunteered to participate in this study. Participants completed a validated self-report questionnaire that contained 47 items relating to patterns of PA, sedentary activity and eating habits. The questionnaire allows the calculation of total energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent (MET-min) values per week. Significant differences in percentage of overweight/obese and levels of PA were evident between the youth from the two countries, with males being generally more physically active than females. Additionally, there were significant associations between Body Mass Index (BMI), PA and sedentary behaviors; the youth with higher BMI reported lower levels of PA and higher amounts of sedentary time. These findings highlight the diverse nature of lifestyle of youth living in different geographical areas of the world and the need for further research to explore the socio-cultural factors that impact on the prevalence of obesity and patterns of PA of youth in different populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Mark Lyons & Peter Collins & Anwar Al-Nuaim & Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa & Michael J. Duncan & Alan Nevill, 2012. "Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Amongst British and Saudi Youth: A Cross-Cultural Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:4:p:1490-1506:d:17209
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/4/1490/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/9/4/1490/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Franco Sassi & Marion Devaux & Michele Cecchini & Elena Rusticelli, 2009. "The Obesity Epidemic: Analysis of Past and Projected Future Trends in Selected OECD Countries," OECD Health Working Papers 45, OECD Publishing.
    2. Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa & Hana I. Al-Sobayel & Abdulrahman O. Musaiger, 2011. "Convergent Validity of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study (ATLS) Physical Activity Questionnaire," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-11, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Omar J. Baqal & Hassan Saleheen & Fadia S. AlBuhairan, 2020. "Urgent Need for Adolescent Physical Activity Policies and Promotion: Lessons from “Jeeluna”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Mark Lyons & Lorna J. Dodd & Anwar Al-Nuaim, 2015. "An Investigation into the Lifestyle, Health Habits and Risk Factors of Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa & Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Michael J. Duncan & Hana I. Al-Sobayel & Nada A. Abahussain & Abdulrahman O. Musaiger & Mark Lyons & Peter Collins & Alan Nevill, 2013. "A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Health Behaviors between Saudi and British Adolescents Living in Urban Areas: Gender by Country Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    4. Atika Khalaf & Örjan Ekblom & Jan Kowalski & Vanja Berggren & Albert Westergren & Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa, 2013. "Female University Students’ Physical Activity Levels and Associated Factors—A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Adel A. Alhusaini & Ganeswara Rao Melam & Syamala Buragadda, 2020. "Cross-Cultural Variation in BMI, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity in International School Girls Residing in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-9, March.
    6. Sonia Chaabane & Karima Chaabna & Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy & Ravinder Mamtani & Sohaila Cheema, 2021. "Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Physical Activity in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-21, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bonnet, Céline & Requillart, Vincent, 2010. "Is The Eu Sugar Policy Reform Likely To Increase Obesity?," 115th Joint EAAE/AAEA Seminar, September 15-17, 2010, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany 116414, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Abdelhamid Kerkadi & Abdelmonem H. Sadig & Hiba Bawadi & Al Anoud Mohammed Al Thani & Walaa Al Chetachi & Hammad Akram & Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa & Abdulrahman O. Musaiger, 2019. "The Relationship between Lifestyle Factors and Obesity Indices among Adolescents in Qatar," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Atika Khalaf & Örjan Ekblom & Jan Kowalski & Vanja Berggren & Albert Westergren & Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa, 2013. "Female University Students’ Physical Activity Levels and Associated Factors—A Cross-Sectional Study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Heinz Schneider & Eva S. Dietrich & Werner P. Venetz, 2010. "Trends and Stabilization up to 2022 in Overweight and Obesity in Switzerland, Comparison to France, UK, US and Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Savelyev, Peter A. & Ward, Benjamin C. & Krueger, Robert F. & McGue, Matt, 2022. "Health endowments, schooling allocation in the family, and longevity: Evidence from US twins," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    6. Nada M. Albawardi & Hoda Jradi & Abdulla A. Almalki & Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, 2017. "Level of Sedentary Behavior and Its Associated Factors among Saudi Women Working in Office-Based Jobs in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, June.
    7. John Komlos & Marek Brabec, 2010. "The Trend of Mean BMI Values of US Adults, Birth Cohorts 1882-1986 Indicates that the Obesity Epidemic Began Earlier than Hitherto Thought," NBER Working Papers 15862, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Egger, Garry & Swinburn, Boyd & Amirul Islam, F.M., 2012. "Economic growth and obesity: An interesting relationship with world-wide implications," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 147-153.
    9. John Komlos & Marek Brabec, 2010. "The Trend of BMI Values among US Adults," CESifo Working Paper Series 2987, CESifo.
    10. Steven A. Haas & Katsuya Oi & Zhangjun Zhou, 2017. "The Life Course, Cohort Dynamics, and International Differences in Aging Trajectories," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(6), pages 2043-2071, December.
    11. Céline Bonnet & Vincent Requillart, 2011. "Does the EU sugar policy reform increase added sugar consumption? An empirical evidence on the soft drink market," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(9), pages 1012-1024, September.
    12. Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Mark Lyons & Lorna J. Dodd & Anwar Al-Nuaim, 2015. "An Investigation into the Lifestyle, Health Habits and Risk Factors of Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, April.
    13. Chang Keun Kwock & Junhyung Park, 2015. "Dietary patterns and body mass indices among adults in Korea: evidence from pseudo panel data," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 46(2), pages 163-172, March.
    14. Kim, Yeon Soo, 2012. "Family Background and Child Health," KDI Policy Studies 2012-01, Korea Development Institute (KDI).
    15. Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa & Yahya Al-Nakeeb & Michael J. Duncan & Hana I. Al-Sobayel & Nada A. Abahussain & Abdulrahman O. Musaiger & Mark Lyons & Peter Collins & Alan Nevill, 2013. "A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Health Behaviors between Saudi and British Adolescents Living in Urban Areas: Gender by Country Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    16. Esraa Burahmah & Sivaramkumar Shanmugam & Ben Stansfield, 2023. "Full-Day Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Levels of Typically Developing Children and Adolescents in the Middle East: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-29, October.
    17. Westbury, Susannah & Oyebode, Oyinlola & VanRens. Thijs & Barber, Thomas M, 2023. "Obesity Stigma : Causes, Consequences, and Potential Solutions," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1452, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    18. Fenske Nora & Fahrmeir Ludwig & Hothorn Torsten & Rzehak Peter & Höhle Michael, 2013. "Boosting Structured Additive Quantile Regression for Longitudinal Childhood Obesity Data," The International Journal of Biostatistics, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, July.
    19. Lisa Benson & Manouchehr Mokhtari, 2011. "Parental Employment, Shared Parent–Child Activities and Childhood Obesity," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 233-244, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:4:p:1490-1506:d:17209. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.