CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND FAMILY INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN’S NUTRITION INTAKE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PATTERNS, AND BMI Z-SCORES IN OMAN

Childhood Obesity is a public health problem. It poses a significant health risk, which has been demonstrated to track into adulthood and decreases children’s physical and psychosocial well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between weight status, nutrition intake, and physical activity patterns of Omani middle age children and explore the familial factors that influence them. The sample of the study consisted of 204 Omani mother-child dyads. The mean age of children was 7.74 years (SD ± 1.161). Among examined children, 17.4% were either overweight or obese and more than 72% of mothers were found to be overweight or obese. Weak associations between children’s nutrition and physical activity pattern and obesity were found. Main familial factors that showed influence on children’s nutrition intake were parental education level, family income, and family nutrition and physical activity pattern. Children’s physical activity pattern as reflected by moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), screen time, and sleep time found to be influenced by maternal BMI, parental education level and working status, as well as family nutrition and physical activity pattern. Interestingly, the results of the study indicated that child’s BMI z-score was strongly associated with maternal BMI and parental education level, particularly mothers’.Doctor of Philosoph

Lifestyle-Related Determinants of Obesity Among Omani Children

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) z-scores and lifestyle-related factors including nutrition, physical activity, screen time and time spent sleeping in 6–10-year-old Omani children. Methods: This cross-sectional study included mother-child dyads that were recruited from five provinces in Oman. Children’s BMI measurements and questionnaires on nutrition intake, physical activity, screen time and time spent sleeping and a single-day dietary recall were collected. Results: A total of 197 dyads were included in this study. The children's mean age was 7.7 ± 1.6 years and 53% were female. In this study, 17.4% of the children were classified as overweight or obese. No significant relationship was found between the children's BMI z-scores and nutrition intake, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time or screen time (P ≥0.05). Increased time spent sleeping at night was positively associated with childhood obesity (P <0.05). Conclusion: The relationship between obesity and caloric intake, physical activity and screen time among children younger than 10 years seems to be moderated by certain factors that need to be investigated. Qualitative studies and questionnaires that are culturally sensitive are therefore needed.Keywords: Children; Pediatric Obesity; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physical Activity; Screen Time; Sleep; Oman

sj-doc-1-whe-10.1177_17455057231220188 – Supplemental material for Adverse pregnancy, fetal and neonatal outcomes in women with sickle cell disease in a Middle Eastern country

Supplemental material, sj-doc-1-whe-10.1177_17455057231220188 for Adverse pregnancy, fetal and neonatal outcomes in women with sickle cell disease in a Middle Eastern country by Salwa Saif Said AL Harthi, Judie Arulappan, Basma Al Yazeedi and Asma Hassan Salmeen Al Zaabi in Women’s Health</p