title: Time for an Adolescent Health Surveillance System in Saudi Arabia: Findings From "Jeeluna".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the increasing burden of noncommunicable disease, adolescence is viewed as an opportune time to prevent the onset of certain behaviors and promote healthy states. Although adolescents comprise a considerable portion of Saudi Arabia's population, they have received insufficient attention and indicators of their health status, as a first step in a prevention cycle are unavailable. This study was carried out with the aim of identifying the health risk behaviors and health status of adolescents in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional, school-based study was carried out in all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. Through multistage, cluster, random sampling, intermediate, and secondary school students were invited to participate. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire addressing health risk behaviors and health status, clinical anthropometric measurements, and laboratory investigations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12,575 adolescents participated. Various health risk behaviors, including dietary and sedentary behaviors, lack of safety measures, tobacco use, bullying, and violence were highly prevalent. Twenty-eight percent of adolescents reported having a chronic health condition, 14.3% reported having symptoms suggestive of depression, 30.0% were overweight/obese, and 95.6% were vitamin D deficient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Behaviors and conditions known to persist into adulthood and result in morbidity and premature mortality are prevalent among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Preventive measures and local health policies are urgently needed and can impact adolescents and future adults. Establishing adolescent health surveillance is necessary to monitor trends and impacts of such measures.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: buhairanfs@ngha.med.sa.
authors: Fadia S
authors: FS
authors: AlBuhairan
authors: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Hani
authors: H
authors: Tamim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Al Dubayee
authors: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Shahla
authors: S
authors: AlDhukair
authors: Ministry of Education, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Sulieman
authors: S
authors: Al Shehri
authors: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Laboratory Pathology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Waleed
authors: W
authors: Tamimi
authors: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors: Charbel
authors: C
authors: El Bcheraoui
authors: King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Mohi Eldin
authors: ME
authors: Magzoub
authors: CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors: Nanne
authors: N
authors: de Vries
authors: Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Al Alwan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Adolescent; Chronic illness; Health status; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Risky behaviors; Surveillance