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Biomedical subjects

A O Musaiger

Publications and source records attributed to A O Musaiger.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Body weight perception among Bahraini adolescents.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the relationship between actual weight status and perceptions of body weight in Bahraini adolescents. The study also investigates the adolescents' perceptions of parents' and peers' opinions of weight. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 447 Bahraini male and female adolescents aged 12-17 years was conducted. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. A short questionnaire was used to obtain their attitudes towards their weight status, as well as the attitudes of their parents and friends. The nine figure silhouettes illustration was used to measure perception of ideal body image and how it compares with their current body weight. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant discrepancy between adolescents' perception of body weight and actual BMI. There was a tendency for teenagers to underestimate their weight status, which was especially noteworthy among the overweight and obese. More than half of the girls and about one-third of the boys expressed discontent with their current body weight. One-third (33.5%) and 26.6% of the adolescents thought that their parents and their peers, respectively, would consider them to be overweight or obese. The percentage of adolescents who reported parental or peer underestimation was higher among those classified as overweight or obese than it was among those who were of normal weight. CONCLUSION: The study shows the existence of a distorted body image as reflected by failure of many overweight or obese adolescents to perceive themselves as such. Among Bahraini adolescents weight-related beliefs and attitudes exist at two ends of the spectrum: a tolerance of obesity at one end and an exaggerated concern for its occurrence at the other.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Overweight and obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: can we control it?

Obesity has become an epidemic problem worldwide, and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region the status of overweight has reached an alarming level. A prevalence of 3%-9% overweight and obesity has been recorded among preschool children, while that among schoolchildren was 12%-25%. A marked increase in obesity generally has been noted among adolescents, ranging from 15% to 45%. In adulthood, women showed a higher prevalence of obesity (35%-75%) than men (30%-60%). Several factors, such as change in dietary habits, socioeconomic factors, inactivity and multiparity (among women) determine obesity in this Region. There is an urgent need for national programmes to prevent and control obesity in the countries of the Region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Bahraini adolescents: a comparison between three different sets of criteria.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Bahraini adolescents using three different sets of criteria/standards. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prevalence study. SETTING: Intermediate and secondary schools in Bahrain. SUBJECTS: The study included a population-representative sample of 506 Bahraini students (249 males and 257 females) between 12 and 17 y of age. The sample was selected using multistage stratified random sampling technique. MEASUREMENT: Anthropometric measurements including weight, height and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were taken on the adolescents. Age was verified against school records. To minimize inter-observer error, weight and height were taken by one person while skinfold was taken by two trained persons (one for each sex). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity among Bahraini boys and girls was high, especially in girls. Obesity was highest (21% in males and 35% in females) when the WHO recommended criteria of BMI for age and skinfolds for age percentiles were applied and lowest (15% in boys and 18% in girls) when the age and sex specific BMI cut-off values of Cole et al were used. Compared with those of WHO criteria, estimates of overweight and obesity prevalence obtained with Must et al and Cole et al were generally close. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed a much higher prevalence rate of obesity in the Bahraini adolescent population than was previously reported, especially among girls. The BMI reference values of Must et al and that of Cole et al gave relatively similar estimates and appear to be more practical for use in surveys aimed at estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents than the WHO recommended composite criteria.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Maternal comprehension of home-based growth chart in Bahrain.

The objectives of this study were to assess Bahrain mothers' understanding and interpretation of currently used home-based growth monitoring chart, and how their education effects their comprehension of it. A sample of 472 mothers of children who were less than 6 years old were selected from 18 health centres in Bahrain. About 73% brought the growth chart with them during their visits. The education of the mothers had a significant effect on the comprehension of the growth chart. Highly-educated mothers were more likely to read the information in the growth chart (69%) than middle (52%) and low-educated mothers (16%) (P<0.0001). Also highly-educated mothers got more benefit from the growth chart (P<0.0001) and more of them understood the reason for the colour in the chart (P<0.0001) than other groups. The majority of husbands (85%) showed no interest in reading the growth chart. Of the mothers, 42% did not know at which age the growth chart should be used. It is important, therefore, that the current growth chart should be reviewed and the mothers and health workers should be involved in the process of designing the chart. Suggestions for improvement of the growth chart currently used were provided.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Profile of body composition of school children (6-18y) in Bahrain.

OBJECTIVE: To study the body composition of Bahraini school children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional national school survey. SUBJECTS: School children aged 6-18y. The sample comprised 818 boys and 775 girls. MEASUREMENTS: Weight, height, arm circumference and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Sum of skinfold thickness, body mass index (BMI), mid arm circumference, percentage body fat, fat weight and lean body weight were then calculated to determine body composition. RESULTS: A significant difference in the sum of skinfold thickness was observed between boys and girls. The girls have almost 50% extra skinfold thickness than boys at all ages. Similar trends were found in BMI, except at ages 9 and 18y. The percentage of body fat was higher in girls than boys. The mean BMI for Bahraini girls aged 13y and above exceeds that of their American counterparts, indicating a trend towards fat accumulation in the Bahraini girls. CONCLUSION: The data obtained are useful for monitoring obesity in school children in Bahrain as well as being usable as reference data for similar countries in the region. The high proportion of body fat among Bahraini school children, especially girls, urges an intervention program to prevent and control obesity in this age group.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

Nutritive value of traditional sweets consumed in the Arab Gulf countries.

Proximate, mineral, fatty acid and cholesterol composition of eight traditional sweets commonly consumed in the Arab Gulf countries were determined. Four sweets were obtained from Bahrain, whereas the other sweets were obtained from Oman. Protein level ranged from 0.2 to 9.0%, while the fat content ranged from 7.9 to 18.0%. In general, the sweets were found to be high in energy content but poor in most minerals. Iron and zinc contents were low (less than 2 and less than 1 mg/100 g for iron and zinc, respectively). Cholesterol was high in four sweets (range from 10.6 to 20.4 mg/100 g), mainly because of the use of animal fat in preparation of these sweets. The fatty acids profiles showed that palmitic and oleic acids were predominant. One sweet (eggbaith) was found to be very high in linoleic (42%) and low in palmitic (9.6%) acids. The study showed that some traditional sweets are nutritious, while others should be consumed with moderation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Lifestyle patterns in smokers and non-smokers in the state of Bahrain.

The purpose of the study was to compare Bahraini adult male and female smokers with former smokers and non-smokers with respect to several aspects of lifestyle. A simplified general method for cluster-sample survey was used to select 516 subjects aged 30-79 years. Study subjects were interviewed using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The prevalence of smoking was 32.1 and 20.7% among men and women, respectively. A statistically significant association (p < 0.001) was observed with respect to smoking status and educational level in both sexes. Smoking was associated with less exercise and more television watching. The findings suggest that smokers should be counseled about their unhealthy lifestyle habits in addition to quitting smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Breastfeeding and weaning practices in Bahrain: the role of mothers' education.

This rapid assessment survey was undertaken to find out the current practices of infant feeding in Bahrain and the impact of educational level of the mothers on these practices. A total sample of 200 Bahraini mothers of children less than 2 years were interviewed in the health centers. The age of mothers ranged from 18 to 47 years. About one third of mothers (39.8%) initiated breastfeeding at the first hour of delivery, and there was no significant association between education of mothers and initiating of breastfeeding. Most infants were placed in the same bed as their mothers (71%), however the proportion was lower among infants with high education (61.8%) compared to low (73.7%) and middle (72.5%) education mothers. The introduction of foods during the first 3 days of the infant's life as well as the practising of breastfeeding on schedule increased with the increased of educational level of mothers. Highly educated mothers tended to introduce rice, wheat, infant formula and fruit at an earlier age of the infant's life than other education groups. The study demonstrates an improvement in infant feeding practices during the last decade. However, the practice of sound infant feeding was less among highly educated mothers when compared to low and middle education mothers. This is mainly due to socio-economic factors rather than lack of awareness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Nutritional status of adolescent girls in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia.

The aim of this study is to assess the nutritional status of Saudi adolescent girls using weight and height measurements. A cross-sectional sample of 676 girls aged 12 to 19 years were selected from Al-Khober city, in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. At all ages median (50th percentiles) heights of Saudi girls are below the 50th percentiles of the international standards. However, the median weight falls between the 75th and 50th of the standards, which may indicate a trend toward obesity. Using the body mass index for determining the nutritional status of the girls, it was found that 11% of girls were underweight, 61% were normal and 28% were overweight or obese. The findings revealed that adolescent girls in Saudi Arabia face two contrasting nutrition situations, underweight and overweight. Similar findings were reported in other Arabian Gulf countries, indicating the need for intervention programmes to promote better nutrition among school children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Food consumption patterns of adults in the United Arab Emirates.

The objectives of this study were to determine the food consumption patterns of Emirati men and women over 20 years of age and to explore the association of age and sex with food intake. A proportional random sample of 1,122 men and 1,090 women was obtained from all the seven Emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The findings showed a significant difference in food frequency intake between men and women, and also between young (20-49 years) and old (50 years and above) subjects. In general the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables and of milk was low. This is a source of concern as these foods are useful sources of vitamins and minerals. Elderly people were more likely to consume traditional foods such as fish and laban (diluted yoghurt) than young people. Modification of dietary habits should be considered in any nutrition education programme for the public in the UAE.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among men and women in an Arab Gulf community.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among the adult population in Bahrain, an Arab Gulf country. A total sample of 516 subjects aged 30-79 years was selected proportionally from all geographical areas of Bahrain. Findings revealed that current smokers represented 32% of men and 20% of women (P < 0.001). However, a relatively high percentage of women were exposed to inhalation of other family member tobacco smoking compared to men (29% and 44% among men and women, respectively). Obesity, hypertension and diabetes were highly prevalent and significantly more reported among women than men. Of women, 79.6% were overweight or obese compared to 56% of men. Sedentary lifestyle patterns (Lack of physical exercise and daily watching of television) were also highly reported. About 12.1% of men and 15.7% of women did not consume fresh fruits. The corresponding percentages for fresh vegetables were 8.4% and 5.5%, respectively. The prevalence of well established risk factors for CVD such as smoking, obesity, inactivity, diabetes and hypertension were high and indicates the need for a national health policy to prevent and control the CVD.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Food habits of mothers and children in two regions of Oman.

Several rapid assessment surveys were carried out during the period 1988-1991 to determine the food habit of preschool children, adolescent girls and mothers in Muscat (the capital) and southern region in Oman. Data were collected from health centers, hospitals and households. There have been differences in dietary habits between the people in the two regions. These differences were more evident in breastfeeding practices, meal patterns of adolescent girls and food frequency intake of mothers. Geographical location, occupation of inhabitants, cultural and ethnic factors may be responsible for the variation in dietary habits between the two regions. Several unsound food practices during pregnancy and puerperium were reported in both regions. In general, dietary patterns of mothers and children have changed dramatically during the past two decades. Duration of breastfeeding has declined and infant formula as well as commercial weaning foods were introduced at an early time of infants' lives. The trend of consumption of food for infants, adolescent girls and mothers is in the direction of unhealthier eating habits, as foods rich in fat, cholesterol, refined sugar and salt are commonly consumed. This food pattern may contribute to diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and dental caries. A nutrition education programme to promote a healthy diet and to correct unsound food beliefs and habits is urgently needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Anaemia among 6 year old children in the United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is estimating the prevalence of anaemia among 6 year old children in United Arab Emirates (UAE). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: All new entries school children aged 6-6.9 years in six Emirates of UAE for the school year 1994/1995. The total children included were 11,800 (92% of total entries). MEASUREMENTS: Haemoglobin concentration in blood. Anaemia was determined using WHO criteria (< 12 g/dl). RESULTS: The total prevalence of anaemia was 31%. Boys were more susceptible than girls (P < 0.001), and national children were more likely to have anaemia than non-nationals (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of anaemia has declined during 1981-1995, the current percentage of anaemia does not match with high socio-economic status and high coverage of health care in UAE.

Anemia↗
PubMed1995

Social and dietary factors associated with obesity in university female students in United Arab Emirates.

A cross-sectional study on 215 university female students aged 18-30 years was undertaken in 1993 to examine some factors associated with obesity among this group of females. Based on Body Mass Index (BMI), (wt/ht2), 19% of females were overweight and 9.8% were obese. The proportion of obesity was the highest in females aged 18 years (31%) compared to those aged 19 and 20 years and above (23.8% and 27.6%, respectively). Although there was no significant association between obesity and social factors studied, the prevalence of obesity was higher in non-national, those with educated mothers, having no housemaid, and having a family history of obesity. Skipping meals and snacks had no significant association with obesity, however, obesity was more prevalent among females who did not skip lunch. In contrast, females who ate afternoon snacks and supper were more likely to be obese than females who skipped these events. Median BMI for university females was higher than that reported in USA for the same age group, while median values for weight and mid-arm circumference for females studied were similar to that reported in their counterparts in Western countries.

Adolescent↗