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Overweight and Obesity Related Factors among Lebanese Adolescents: An Explanation for Gender and Socioeconomic Differences

Hala Youssef, Marguerite Zind, Sophie Garnier, Abdallah Fazah, Christophe Jacob, Elie Moussa, Arlette Gratas-Delamarche and Carole Groussard

Background: The obesity-related factors in adolescents differ from one country to another. In Lebanon, those factors are still undetermined. Therefore, our purpose is to investigate the main determinants of overweight and obesity in Lebanese adolescents and to assess gender-specific differences.

Methods: In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, 1000 Lebanese adolescents were recruited to determine obesity-related factors: birth weight, weight at 5 and 10-year-old children, feeding pattern, only child or first born status, puberty characteristics, lifestyle [nutrition, sedentary behaviors, and physical activity], school grades, family obesity, obesity-related diseases, place of residence, and socio-economic and professional status of parents.

Results: Multiple regressions show that puberty obesity, lifestyle, family obesity and family status, and childhood feeding pattern are consecutively the major factors to adolescents’ obesity. Contrary to Western countries, overweight and obese Lebanese adolescents belong to a high socioeconomic class, and they do practice more physical and leisure activities. This paradox is more obvious in boys (having a higher socio-economic status compared to girls, boys are more affected by overweight and obesity caused by behavioral problems and this despite their more frequent physical leisure activities). On the contrary, girls’ obesity is more associated with family obesity rather than behavior disorders.

Conclusion: Lebanese adolescents’ obesity is related to many behavior disorders especially in boys. Moreover, their physical practice is not sufficient to overcome their excessive sedentary behaviors and nutritional mistakes.