biostudies-literatureUnknown7Elkum NKuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences<b>Objectives:</b> To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional sample of 6-18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured from 6,574 Arab Kuwaiti schoolchildren, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were defined in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (aged 6-18 years) were 17.7% and 33.7%, respectively. The likelihood of childhood obesity increased with birth weights >4.0 Kg [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; Frontiers in public health72https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6455072biostudies-literatureThe Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors.PMC6455072Alarouj MBennakhi AElkum NShaltout AfalseThe Complex Etiology of Childhood Obesity in Arabs Is Highlighted by a Combination of Biological and Socio-Economic Factors.<b>Objectives:</b> To identify predictors of childhood and adolescent obesity in Kuwaitis with Arab ethnicity. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional sample of 6-18 year-old schoolchildren was randomly selected from 244 public schools across all six governorates in the State of Kuwait. Anthropometric data were measured from 6,574 Arab Kuwaiti schoolchildren, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors associated with obesity. Overweight and obesity were defined in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children (aged 6-18 years) were 17.7% and 33.7%, respectively. The likelihood of childhood obesity increased with birth weights >4.0 Kg [odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z20192025-04-04T08:24:04.75Z2019-06-06T21:09:29ZS-EPMC64550723100150810.3389/fpubh.2019.00072