Family lifestyle and children’s weight status in Kuwait: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Kuwait ranks among the top countries worldwide in childhood obesity rates. This study investigates the impact of family lifestyle on overweight and obesity among children in Kuwait. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey, with a sample of 696 children aged between 6–12 years (323 boys, 373 girls) and their parents. Data were collected using a questionnaire divided into five dimensions: dietary patterns, hunger cognition, parental perception, social behaviors, and environmental influences (Cronbach’s α = 0.887). Results showed that lifestyle differences were not uniform across all variables or dimensions. Females scored higher than males on the overall lifestyle measure. By contrast, parental education showed significant differences only in the nutritional/behavioral dimension, while income was associated with differences in the parental attitudes dimension. Family structure mattered only in the nutritional/behavioral dimension, and housing type was significant only in the cognitive/nutritional dimension. The governorate of residence showed significant differences across the overall lifestyle score and all dimensions. Sleep duration influenced only the nutritional/behavioral dimension, with children sleeping ≥8 hours showing the most favorable outcomes. The findings highlight the role of family lifestyle in children's health and underscore the need for interventions based on improving family lifestyles to address childhood obesity.