title: A cross-cultural comparison of health behaviors between Saudi and British adolescents living in urban areas: gender by country analyses.
abstract: This study investigated the cross-cultural differences and similarity in health behaviors between Saudi and British adolescents. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted at four cities in Saudi Arabia (Riyadh and Al-Khobar; N = 1,648) and Britain (Birmingham and Coventry; N = 1,158). The participants (14-18 year-olds) were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included anthropometric, screen time, validated physical activity (PA) questionnaire and dietary habits. The overweight/obesity prevalence among Saudi adolescents (38.3%) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher than that found among British adolescents (24.1%). The British adolescents demonstrated higher total PA energy expenditure than Saudi adolescents (means ± SE = 3,804.8 ± 81.5 vs. 2,219.9 ± 65.5 METs-min/week). Inactivity prevalence was significantly (p < 0.001) higher among Saudi adolescents (64%) compared with that of British adolescents (25.5%). The proportions of adolescents exceeding 2 h of daily screen time were high (88.0% and 90.8% among Saudis and British, respectively). The majority of Saudi and British adolescents did not have daily intakes of breakfast, fruit, vegetables and milk. MANCOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) gender by country interactions in several lifestyle factors. There was a significant (p < 0.001) gender differences in the ratio of physical activity to sedentary behaviors. In conclusion, Saudi and British adolescents demonstrated some similarities and differences in their PA levels, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits. Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors among adolescents appear to be a cross-cultural phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, College of Education, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2458, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. alhazzaa@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Hazzaa M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Hazzaa
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Nakeeb
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Hana I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Al-Sobayel
authors.forename: Nada A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abahussain
authors.forename: Abdulrahman O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Musaiger
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population