Lifestyle Habits Diet, physical activity and sleep duration among Omani adolescents
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2013, Vol 13, Issue 4
Abstract
Objectives: Tis study aimed to investigate the lifestyle habits—physical activity (PA), eating habits (EH), and sleep duration (SD)—of Omani adolescents, and to examine gender differences in such variables. Methods: 802 Omani adolescents (442 females and 360 males), aged 15‒18 years were randomly recruited. Anthropometric indices, PA level, and EH and SD were evaluated by the Arab Teenage Lifestyle questionnaire. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment was also administered. Results: Te results showed that although the study subjects had a sedentary lifestyle (lack of PA, average of 6.7 hours sleep, and consumption of high calorie foods), they maintained a normal body mass (less than 25 Kg/m2). Males were more than twice as active as females. With respect to EH, there were few gender differences, except in dairy and meat consumption where 62.5% and 55.5% of males consumed more than 3 servings, respectively, compared to 18.78 % and 35.2% of females, respectively. In addition, waist/height ratio, height, reasons for being active, energy drinks, potato consumption, eating sweets, vigorous PA and breakfast EHs were statistically signifcant independent predictors for BMI, P <0.05 for both males and females. Conclusion: Tis study revealed a high prevalence of sedentary behaviors and a low level of physical activity, especially among females. Unhealthy dietary habits were also widely found among both genders. Tere is an urgent need for more research as well as a national policy promoting active living and healthy eating and discouraging sedentary behaviour among Omani adolescents.
Authors and Affiliations
Hashem Kilani| Department of Physical Education, College of Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman, Hazzaa Al-Hazzaa| Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Physical Education & Movement Sciences, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Mostafa I. Waly| Food Science & Nutrition Department, College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, Abdulrahman Musaiger| Arab Center for Nutrition, Manama, Bahrain, and Nutrition & Health Studies Unit, Deanship of Scientifc Research, University of Bahrain
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