Lifestyle-Related Determinants of Obesity Among Omani Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Childhood Obesity Research

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing global concern.
• Lifestyle factors significantly influence body mass index (BMI) in children.
• Understanding these factors in diverse populations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between BMI z-scores and lifestyle factors in Omani children aged 6-10.
• To explore relationships with nutrition intake, physical activity, screen time, and sleep duration.
• To identify potential modulators of obesity in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 197 mother-child dyads from five Omani provinces.
• Collected data included children's BMI, dietary recall, and questionnaires on lifestyle habits.
• Assessed nutrition intake, physical activity levels, screen time, and sleep duration.

Main Results:

• 17.4% of children were overweight or obese.
• No significant correlation found between BMI z-scores and nutrition intake, physical activity, or screen time (P≥0.05).
• Increased nighttime sleep duration was positively associated with higher BMI z-scores (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• The interplay between obesity and lifestyle factors (diet, activity, screen time) in young children is complex.
• Additional factors likely moderate these relationships and warrant further investigation.
• Culturally sensitive qualitative studies are recommended to explore these nuances.