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Background: The combined action of biological, physical, and chemical agents in the environment impacts on children's health resulting in illness and disability. Body measurements provide the optimum method of evaluating the health status of children. This study was done to measure the main air pollutants that affect the physical growth of primary schoolboys and compare the growth patterns of these young boys in three different areas in the city of Dammam in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three different environmental areas (residential, commercial, and industrial). The total number of boys in the study was 851. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with three main parts: sociodemographic, anthropometric measurements, and air pollutant measurements. Results: Less than half the children (45%) residing in the residential area belonged to Classes 4 and 5 socioeconomic groups. In addition, 56.6% of the children residing in the commercial area and 26.5% of children in the industrial area belonged to the same socioeconomic class. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean age (P < 0.01), nationality, and the number of rooms and bedrooms (P < 0.001) in the boys' homes. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in weight (P < 0.05), height (P < 0.001), and height for age according to international standards (P < 0.01). Moreover, arm anthropometry of boys living in the residential area was higher than in the other two studied areas. Low values of all anthropometric measurements of the studied boys were significantly associated with exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) >0.35 parts per million (ppm) or carbon monoxide >35 ppm (Saudi standard) outdoors, irrespective of socioeconomic conditions. Conclusions: The most significant factors that affected anthropometric values were total suspended particulate concentration in the outdoor air of the studied areas, parental education, and/or occupation. It is recommended that steps be taken to reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Objectives: To determine the level of knowledge of primary health care physicians and the barriers perceived in the management of overweight and obesity in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Setting: Primary health care centers in Dammam and Al-Khobar cities, Saudi Arabia. Design: A cross-sectional study. Materials and Methods: One hundred and forty-nine physicians were surveyed. Data were collected with a specially made anonymous, self-administrated, structured questionnaire with a Cronbach alpha reliability of 0.85, and content validity by five experts was used to measure the knowledge and barriers from several different aspects of care provided by primary health care centers to the overweight and obese. Results: One hundred and thirty (87%) physicians responded. More than two-thirds of the respondents considered themselves as key players in the management of obesity. However, only one-third believed that they were well prepared to treat obesity. Eighty-three per cent of the respondents had a negative attitude toward the concept of overweight and obesity. It was noted that 76.9% of physicians advised patients to control their weight with sport and exercise together with low calorie diet. Sixty percent of the respondents used body mass index to diagnose obesity. Seventy-two percent of respondents did not use weight reduction medications to treat obesity. Lack of training, poor administrative support, and time constraints were identified as barriers in managing overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Respondents were aware of the magnitude of overweight and obesity as a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia, and they were also aware of the correct definition of overweight and obesity, as well as its effect in increasing mortality. Better training is required to improve some areas of awareness and management of the conditions.

Objectives: This study aimed to collect information on the personal health status of health sciences students in Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. It also aimed to investigate the relationships between levels of physical activity and other behaviours as well as specific health indicators in students attending college. Methods: A convenience sample of 147 college students, ages 18 to 24 years, participated in this research study at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. The data were obtained through interview questionnaire and trained investigators collected weight, height, blood pressure and blood sugar measurements. Results: Forty-five percent of the students were either overweight or obese (21.8% and 23.1%) while 17.0% of the students were current smokers and 7.5% of them were ex-smokers. The majority of the students (91.8%) had fast food (hamburger, French fries, and soft drink) and out of these 62.9% had it three times or more weekly. Furthermore, 35% or more of the students did not have breakfast or drink milk or have vegetables on a daily basis. Also, 22.4% of the students were inactive. Ten percent of the participants were hypertensive while 1.4% had impaired random blood sugar with increased risk for diabetes mellitus. All of these students were unaware that they had hypertension or high random blood sugar. There was a significant statistical relationship between living in-campus at university and frequency of consumption of fast food (p = 0.003). Conclusion: This study shows that there were high rates of risky lifestyles, namely, obesity, smoking, unhealthy diet, and inactivity among health sciences students, while some have health issues such as hypertension and high risk of diabetes.