Rising trends in BMI of Saudi adolescents: evidence from three national cross sectional studies.

OBJECTIVE To examine the trends in body mass index (BMI) of Saudi male adolescents between 1988 and 1996. METHODS The data set came from three major population-based cross sectional studies. They all involve nationally representative samples and were conducted between 1988 and 1996. BMI was calculated from body height and mass and plotted at the 50(th) and 90(th) percentiles. RESULTS BMI of Saudi adolescents progressively increased at both 50(th) and 90(th) percentiles between 1988 and 1996. The increases in BMI during the eight-year period ranged from 9.6 to 10.8% at the 50 (th) percentiles and from 10.9 to 13.9% at the 90th percentiles. At ages 15-18 years, the yearly increase in median BMI from 1988 to 1996 averaged 0.246 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION The rising trends in BMI between 1988 and 1996 are indication of increasing obesity among Saudi male adolescents. More attention to the promotion of healthy nutrition and physical activity throughout childhood and adolescence is required.