Associations of Overweight and of Weight Dissatisfaction among Palestinian Adolescents: Findings from the National Study of Palestinian School Childrens (HBSC-WBG2004)
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Date
2010-10-20
Authors
H. Al Sabbah
C.A Vereecken
Z. Abdeen
L.Maes
Journal Title
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Abstract
<p>Objective: To investigate associations of overweight and of weight dissatisfaction with demographic characteristics, body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine.<br />
Design and subject: The Palestinian Health Behavior in School-aged Children is a cross sectional survey of 17715 adolescents (48% boys and 52% girls) in a representative sample of grades 6, 8, 10 &12. Students completed a modified version of the international WHO collaborative Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC 2004) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine interactions of weight status and dieting status and investigate associations.<br />
Results: 16.5% of the adolescents were overweight nevertheless approximately one third (32%) of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their weights (either dieting or perceived a need to diet). One fifth (20.5%) of the adolescents (16% boys and 24% girls) were dissatisfied with their weights while they were nonoverweight. More overweight boys and more boys dissatisfied with<br />
their weights had highly educated mothers and were found in high affluent families (p<0.001). In both genders, especially girls, weight dissatisfaction regardless of weight status was positively associated with most of the selected variables, (P<0.001), whereas overweight was not except for the perception of body weight (P<0.001) and few other variables (P<0.05).<br />
Conclusion: Weight dissatisfaction among non overweight Palestinian adolescents is high especially in girls. Regardless of the weight status, weight dissatisfaction is positively associated with most variables of body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine. These results are useful for health professionals to plan for health education programs to promote healthy lifestyle among adolescents.</p>
<p>Objective: To investigate associations of overweight and of weight dissatisfaction with demographic characteristics, body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine.<br /> Design and subject: The Palestinian Health Behavior in School-aged Children is a cross sectional survey of 17715 adolescents (48% boys and 52% girls) in a representative sample of grades 6, 8, 10 &12. Students completed a modified version of the international WHO collaborative Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC 2004) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine interactions of weight status and dieting status and investigate associations.<br /> Results: 16.5% of the adolescents were overweight nevertheless approximately one third (32%) of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their weights (either dieting or perceived a need to diet). One fifth (20.5%) of the adolescents (16% boys and 24% girls) were dissatisfied with their weights while they were nonoverweight. More overweight boys and more boys dissatisfied with<br /> their weights had highly educated mothers and were found in high affluent families (p<0.001). In both genders, especially girls, weight dissatisfaction regardless of weight status was positively associated with most of the selected variables, (P<0.001), whereas overweight was not except for the perception of body weight (P<0.001) and few other variables (P<0.05).<br /> Conclusion: Weight dissatisfaction among non overweight Palestinian adolescents is high especially in girls. Regardless of the weight status, weight dissatisfaction is positively associated with most variables of body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine. These results are useful for health professionals to plan for health education programs to promote healthy lifestyle among adolescents.</p>
<p>Objective: To investigate associations of overweight and of weight dissatisfaction with demographic characteristics, body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine.<br /> Design and subject: The Palestinian Health Behavior in School-aged Children is a cross sectional survey of 17715 adolescents (48% boys and 52% girls) in a representative sample of grades 6, 8, 10 &12. Students completed a modified version of the international WHO collaborative Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC 2004) questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine interactions of weight status and dieting status and investigate associations.<br /> Results: 16.5% of the adolescents were overweight nevertheless approximately one third (32%) of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their weights (either dieting or perceived a need to diet). One fifth (20.5%) of the adolescents (16% boys and 24% girls) were dissatisfied with their weights while they were nonoverweight. More overweight boys and more boys dissatisfied with<br /> their weights had highly educated mothers and were found in high affluent families (p<0.001). In both genders, especially girls, weight dissatisfaction regardless of weight status was positively associated with most of the selected variables, (P<0.001), whereas overweight was not except for the perception of body weight (P<0.001) and few other variables (P<0.05).<br /> Conclusion: Weight dissatisfaction among non overweight Palestinian adolescents is high especially in girls. Regardless of the weight status, weight dissatisfaction is positively associated with most variables of body image, health complaints, risk behaviors and physical (in)activity in adolescents in Palestine. These results are useful for health professionals to plan for health education programs to promote healthy lifestyle among adolescents.</p>