The physical activity as potential risk factor for weight increase among adolescents in Lebanon

Abstract

Obesity is a worldwide disease that has no boundaries. According to the World Health Organization, It affects more than 300 million people. It is associated with a considerable health impact making it a risk factor for several diseases such as: hypertension, type-2 diabetes, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Physical activity, a risk factor for obesity, plays a vital role in the prevention or occurrence of weight gain. Moreover, it is the only component of energy expenditure that can be altered by will. The aim of this thesis is to assess obesity prevalence and its relation to physical activity among Lebanese adolescents. 1000 subjects took part in this study. Physical activity and weight and height were assessed by means of self-report questionnaires. Results show that 7.8% of males and 1.75% of females are obese, and 22.5% of males and 12.47% of females are overweight. Some of the results reported on physical activity may help explain the prevalence of obesity especially among girls. A strong emphasis should be placed on encouraging overweight and obese adolescents to increase their level of involvement in physical activity not only for loosing or managing their weight progress but mainly because physical activity is known to play a preventive role against many obesity related diseases.