Table 1 Characteristics of participants in the study of health and activity among adolescents in Kuwait (SHAAK)

Age (year)

15.9 (14.7–17.3)

16.0 (14.6–17.6)

Height (cm)

169.0 (168.0–171.0)***

156.0 (155.0–157.0)

Weight (kg)

70.8 (58.9–91.3)***

58.4 (46.1–67.5)

BMI (kg m⁻²)

24.4 (20.6–30.8)**

23.3 (19.1–26.9)

BMI for age Z-score

1.31 ± 1.60***

0.81 ± 1.47

Weight status based on the IOTF

 Overweight/obesity (% total sample)

24.3/35.5

31.8/15.9

 Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

115.6 ± 19.91***

101.5 ± 12.39

 Maternal education level (n, %)

  Low^a

15 (7.5)

25 (10.7)

  Medium^b

27 (13.4)

35 (15.0)

  High^c

159 (79.1)

174 (74.4)

Questionnaire based behaviour

 TV-viewing (h/day)

1.5 (1.5–2.5)

2.5 (1.5–2.6)***

 Videogames (h/day)

1.5 (0–1.5)***

0 (0–1.5)

 Computer use (h/day)

0 (0–1.5)

1.5 (0–1.5)**

 Total screen-time (h/day)

3 (1.5–4.5)

4 (3–5.5)

Boys (n = 162)

Girls (n = 189)

Accelerometry

 Wear time (h/day)

13.9 (11.9–15.9)

14.3 (12.0–16.6)

 Sedentary time (min/day)

492 (431–565)

567 (489–635)***

 Moderate to vigorous (min/day)

19 (10.4–30.6)***

8.75 (4.8–16.7)