This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Al-Mannai, A. Articles by Khalfan, H. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Obesity in Bahraini Adults

College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 26671, Manama, Bahrain

J W T Dickerson, PhD, FIBiol, HonFRSH

School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH

Jane B Morgan, MSc, PhD, SRD

School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH

H. Khalfan, PhD

College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, PO Box 26671, Manama, Bahrain

In this study the prevalence of obesity and the demographic factors associated with it were analysed on 290 adult Bahraini individuals, of whom 137 were males and 153 were females. The overweight and obesity prevalence rates, using the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a criterion, were 26% and 16% in males and 29% and 31% in females, respec tively. The prevalence of underweight (BMI< 20) was 16.8% and 11.8% in the males and females respectively. The mean body fat percentage of females, calculated from the skinfold measurements, was 35%; the fat percentage of males was 18.6%. Bahraini women had greater fat deposition in the subscapular region than the amount reported for American women. Females and males living in urban areas had a greater tendency to be obese than those residing in rural areas. Marriage, ownership of a car as well as a large family (> 7 mem bers) were positively associated with obesity; unmarried women were more likely to be underweight than married women. The educational level was not associated with obesity in either the males or females. The age of adult females was not found to be associated with obesity, whereas in males the incidence of obesity was more frequent among those who were 50 years of age and above than under 50 years of age. Family monthly income was not asso ciated with the incidence of obesity. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the women reported in this study and the difference in the distribution of body fat suggest that genetics may be a determinant factor of this disorder in Bahrainis but certainly social fac tors are also important.

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, Vol. 116, No. 1, 30-40 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/146642409611600108


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?