Lifestyle habits : diet, physical activity and sleep duration among Omani adolescents

• Published in: Sultan Qaboos University medical journal 2013-11, Vol.13 (4), p.510-519
• Main Authors: al-Kilani, Hashim Adnan, al-Hazza, Hazza, Wali, Mustafa I., Musaiger, Abd al-Rahman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adolescent; Clinical & Basic Research; dietary habits; habits; index, body mass; lifestyle; oman; physical activity; sleep
• ISSN: 2075-051X; 2075-0528
• DOI: 10.12816/0003309

This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle habits-physical activity (PA), eating habits (EH), and sleep duration (SD)-of Omani adolescents, and to examine gender differences in such variables. 802 Omani adolescents (442 females and 360 males), aged 15-18 years were randomly recruited. Anthropometric indices, PA level, and EH and SD were evaluated by the Arab Teenage Lifestyle questionnaire. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary assessment was also administered. The results showed that although the study subjects had a sedentary lifestyle (lack of PA, average of 6.7 hours sleep, and consumption of high calorie foods), they maintained a normal body mass (less than 25 Kg/m(2)). Males were more than twice as active as females. With respect to EH, there were few gender differences, except in dairy and meat consumption where 62.5% and 55.5% of males consumed more than 3 servings, respectively, compared to 18.78 % and 35.2% of females, respectively. In addition, waist/height ratio, height, reasons for being active, energy drinks, potato consumption, eating sweets, vigorous PA and breakfast EHs were statistically significant independent predictors for BMI, P