0000000000321193
AUTHOR
Carine Vereecken
Weight control behaviors among overweight, normal weight and underweight adolescents in Palestine: findings from the national study of Palestinian schoolchildren (HBSC-WBG2004).
Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between weight-control behaviors and selfreported sociodemographic characteristics, weight status, and perception of body weight in a large, representative sample of adolescents in the West Bank and Gaza Strip territories of Palestine. Method: Self-report measures of sociodemographic characteristics, body weight perception, height and weight, and weight-control behaviors were completed by 8,885 male and female students aged 12–18 years from 405 randomly selected schools as part of the 2003/2004 Palestinian Health Behavior in School-aged Children Study (HBSC). Results: In both genders, dieting to lose weight was common amon…
Breakfast consumption and its socio-demographic and lifestyle correlates in schoolchildren in 41 countries participating in the HBSC study
Objective: To investigate associations of daily breakfast consumption (DBC) with demographic and lifestyle factors in 41 countries. Methods: Design: Survey including nationally representative samples of 11–15 year olds (n = 204,534) (HBSC 2005–2006). Statistics: Multilevel logistic regression analyses Results: DBC varied from 33 % (Greek girls) to 75 % (Portuguese boys). In most countries, lower DBC was noticed in girls, older adolescents, those with lower family affluence and those living in single-parent families. DBC was positively associated with healthy lifestyle behaviours and negatively with unhealthy lifestyle behaviours. peerReviewed
Trends in toothbrushing in 20 countries/regions from 1994 to 2010
Background: For maintaining good oral health, twice-a-day toothbrushing routine is recommended world-wide. As an association between oral diseases and the main non-communicable diseases is confirmed, the importance of brushing is rising. The aim of this article is to describe trends in more-than-once-a-day toothbrushing frequency in 20 countries/regions participating in five consecutive HBSC Surveys between 1994 and 2010. Methods: Eleven-, 13-, and 15-year-old children, who replied to the questionnaire in any of the five surveys, were included ( N = 474 760). Trends were analysed by logistic regression and multilevel logistic regression modelling. Results: Prevalence of recommended toothbru…
Attempts to lose weight among overweight and non-overweight adolescents: a cross-national survey
Abstract Background Despite the global obesity epidemic, few studies have performed cross-national comparisons of adolescents' attempts to lose weight and weight control practices. This study aims to investigate matters mentioned above by weight status in Europe, Israel, and North America. Methods Nationally representative samples of adolescents from over 30 countries completed an anonymous, standardized questionnaire as part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2001/2002 survey. The prevalence and likelihood of attempts to lose weight were determined. The effect of weight status, self-perception of overweight, age and country of residence upon the likelihood of current attempts …
Asthma and wheezing symptoms in young people in six Western countries.
Background Asthma diagnosed in children shows wide geographical variations. Large scale surveys identify children with diagnosed asthma, but neglect the group of youngsters with multiple asthmatic complaints. Methods A short validated asthma questionnaire was included in six national surveys of the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study. Prevalence rates are presented by country, gender and age. Gender and age differences are analysed using binary and multinomial logistic regressions controlling for age and smoking. Results Large country differences are observed in the prevalence rates of diagnosed asthma (8.6%-20.9% in boys, 6.9%-18.5% in girls) and young people with “asthma-like s…
Fruit and vegetable consumption trends among adolescents from 2002 to 2010 in 33 countries
BACKGROUND: Fruit and vegetable consumption is linked to many positive health outcomes, nevertheless many adolescents do not consume fruit and vegetables on a daily basis.METHODS: Data of 488,951 adolescents, aged 11-, 13- and 15- years, from 33 mainly European and North American countries/regions participating in the cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children surveys in 2002, 2006 and 2010, were used to investigate trends in daily fruit and vegetable consumption between 2002 and 2010.RESULTS: Multilevel logistic regression analyses showed an increase in daily fruit and vegetable consumption between 2002 and 2010 in the majority of countries for both genders and all three age …
Body weight dissatisfaction and communication with parents among adolescents in 24 countries: international cross-sectional survey
Abstract Background Parents have significant influence on behaviors and perceptions surrounding eating, body image and weight in adolescents. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of body weight dissatisfaction, difficulty in communication with the parents and the relationship between communication with parents and adolescents' dissatisfaction with their body weight (dieting or perceived need to diet). Methods Survey data were collected from adolescents in 24 countries and regions in Europe, Canada, and the USA who participated in the cross-sectional 2001/2002 Health Behaviour of School-Aged Children (HBSC) study. The association between communication with parents and body wei…
Attempts to lose weight among overweight and non-overweight adolescents : a cross-national survey
Background: Despite the global obesity epidemic, few studies have performed cross-national comparisons of adolescents' attempts to lose weight and weight control practices. This study aims to investigate matters mentioned above by weight status in Europe, Israel, and North America. Methods: Nationally representative samples of adolescents from over 30 countries completed an anonymous, standardized questionnaire as part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2001/2002 survey. The prevalence and likelihood of attempts to lose weight were determined. The effect of weight status, self-perception of overweight, age and country of residence upon the likelihood of current attempts to lose…