Ek. Amine et M. Samy, OBESITY AMONG FEMALE UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS IN THE UNITED-ARAB-EMIRATES, Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 116(2), 1996, pp. 91-96
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among
female students from the United Arab Emirates University. A sample of
566 students was taken. Body weight and height were measured. The stud
ents were interviewed to collect data on age, home Emirate, obesity in
childhood, obesity among parents, food intake between meals, the cons
umption of fast foods and physical activity. A student was considered
overweight when the body weight was 110-120% of the reference weight o
f height and was considered obese when the body weight exceeds 120% of
the reference value. The results show that 10.8% of the students were
overweight and 30.6% were obese. While the prevalence of obesity incr
eased with age, obesity among students was associated with obesity dur
ing childhood, the presence of obesity among one or both patents, food
intake between meals and in particular fast foods. Limited physical e
xercise and long afternoon napping were important contributors to the
development of obesity.