Project Title:
SB in GCC Systematic review
PI: Shaima Alothman
Co PI:
Heyam Almosabihi, Reham Gaid, Abdullah Alghannam, Mohammed Alshehri
Project Summary:
Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) went through a significant change in their lifestyle. This change is due to fast urbanization, car domination for personal transport, arisen in electronic appliances usage at home and work, high amount of time spent on TV, computer and technological developments caused by the industrial revolution that decreased the needed amount of physical labor in the workforce. Reduced physical activity in everyday life made people and adults adopt a sedentary lifestyle. Sedentary behavior is defined as the activity where individuals spent a low amount of energy (≤ 1.5 MET) for a long time in a sitting, reclining, and lying position. Current observational epidemiological evidence reported that individuals are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, obesity, and metabolic syndrome when they spent much time being sedentary, regardless of the time invested in physical exercise. Therefore, this review aims to gather, assess, and evaluate the impact of sedentary behavior on health in GCC countries. Also, to evaluate the methodological quality of sedentary behavior research in GCC countries.
Project Title:
The Influence of Bariatric Surgery on Appetite, Body Composition, and Energy Expenditure
PI: Abeer Alzaben
Co PI:
Saaed Alshlewi, Dalal Alharbi, Shaima A. Alothman, Alaa A. Almasud
Project Summary:
Bariatric surgery has become one medical therapy for patients who complained from obesity and co-morbidities associated with obesity. However, numerous reports have shown an increase in body weight post-bariatric surgery. Evidence shows that there is changes in appetite hormones post-bariatric surgery such as Leptin and Ghrelin. However, there are changes in appetite hormones post bariatric surgery such as Leptin and Ghrelin. However, there is not clear understanding if those hormones changes will extend up to one-year post bariatric surgery in which responsible for increase food intake and gain body weight post bariatric surgery. The aim of the current study is to assess the association between Appetite test (subjective) and the hormones associated with appetite (Leptin and Ghrelin) in patients one year post bariatric surgery. This study is a pilot study that will assess appetite subjectively using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Biomarkers to assess appetite will be measured (Leptin and Ghrelin levels). Additional test will be measured including body composition, Resting Energy Expenditure (REE), food intake Glycemic Index (GI), Glycemic Load (GL) using 24 hr recall and physical activity using a validated tool to assess physical activity. The result of this study will provide a clear answer of the reason of gain body weigh in patients’ one-year post-bariatric surgery.
Project Title:
Translation & Validation of SARC-F
PI: Shaima Alothman
Co PI:
Doaa S. Aljasser, Lama A. Alrasheed, Alaa A. Almasud, Abdullah F. Alghannam
Project Summary:
In older people, sarcopenia prevalence is about 10% globally. Sarcopenia can lead to high associated cost medically and finically. Thus, early detection of sarcopenia is critical to reduce the disease burden at the individual and society level. SARC-F is a simple 5 – questions that has been shown to valid and reliable in screening individuals with sarcopenia. However, there is no Arabic version of this questionnaire. Thus, this study objective is to translate SARC-F to Arabic and evaluate its validity and reliability.
Project Title:
The prevalence of the most prominent diets and personal weight management attempts among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
PI: Alaa Almasud
Co PI:
Lama Alrasheed, Shaima Alothman, Shihana A. Alakeel, Omar A. Alhumaidan, Mjed Alkalaf
Project Summary:
The prevalence of obesity is high worldwide, and in Saudi Arabia, among the highest rates in the Gulf region, these problems are very severe. Consumption of fast food, Tran’s fatty acids, and fructose has been implicated as a possible contributing factor in the obesity crisis, along with rising portion sizes and reduced physical activity. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer are strongly related to unhealthy dietary intakes, and being overweight or obese bring major risk factors (WHO, 2016). In fear of disease development among the people, who struggle with being overweight or obese, millions each year attempt to lose weight by following a diet and or exercise plan. However, we continue to see the rates of people struggling with unhealthy weight levels increase each passing year. The most popular diets have varying degrees of effectiveness, and such common diets continue to come and go. Continued growth and development are most relevant when considering teenagers, and restrictive diets may contribute to nutritional inadequacies and poor growth. It is necessary to understand the goal of the diet and the cost versus the benefits associated with adopting the diet before making any recommendation. Adherence, irrespective of the type of diet introduced, is often a challenge. This study will determine what weight-loss diets and interventions are most commonly followed in Saudi Arabia and to evaluate the efficacy of those diets. A questionnaire will be developed and distributed among various primary health care or weight loss centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants will be asked questions regarding their demographics, income level, age, marital status, educational level, weight, height, self-perceptions, and beliefs of health status, types of diets followed, nutritional awareness, resources used, outcomes, and if there were any reasons for abandoning the diet. The questionnaire will be pretested with current participants at Alkaff Clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Once approved and validated, questionnaires will be distributed to different health care and weight loss centers in Saudi Arabia. The interviewer will be trained on how to conduct the interview with the questionnaire, which will be available in both English and Arabic. Once all questionnaires have been completed, they will be coded for data input and analysis.
Project Title:
Pathological Changes in Skeletal Muscle throughout the Cancer Trajectory
PI: Alaa Almasud, Nasser A. Alsanea
Co PI:
Abdullah S. AlHudaib, Hanan A. Henidi, Shaima A. Alothman, Abdullah F. Alghannam, Nada M. Albawardi, Omar S. Aldibasi, Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa
Project Summary:
High-resolution image-based techniques such as computed tomography [CT] have been instrumental in furthering our understanding of body composition in relation to human health. This technology has been recently applied to cancer patients and has revealed a high prevalence of sarcopenia [low muscle mass] and pathological fat accumulation in muscle [myosteatosis]. Pathological fat deposition within skeletal muscle is a feature of disease-induced muscle loss that is significantly associated with poor outcome and shorter survival in people with cancer. Unfortunately, little is known about this phenomenon in a Middle Eastern population. The current study aims to characterize sarcopenia and myosteatosis in cancer patients who have a gastrointestinal or Hepatobiliary tumor through the determination of adipose tissue deposition within skeletal muscle over time utilizing sequential [serial] CT images performed during a patient treatment plan and follow up. Second, skeletal muscle samples from the anterior abdominal wall will be obtained from a sample of 34 patients who have undergone surgical resection of their tumors. Proportion of adipocytes, myocytes, total fat and fatty acid composition, muscle stem cells, adipokines, myokines and inflammatory markers will be measured. Control samples will be obtained from healthy participants and patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
Project Title:
Effect of FIFA 11+ prevention program on injury rates and physical performance in female collegiate basketball players
PI: Abdullah F. Alghannam
Co PI:
Reem Shaima A. Alothman, Muhanad S. Aljubairi, Azad M. Jan, Suliman A. Alghnam, Alaa A. Almasud
Project Summary:
Basketball is a team sport involving high physical and physiological demands such as jumping, running, and change of direction. These abrupt and explosive movement consequently lead to a high injury rate among players. Implementing sport injury prevention programs are a viable means to reduce injury rate. Current injury prevention programs for basketball players, such as neuromuscular training and external support require higher financial costs or may have limited applicability. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of XX prevention program in female collegiate basketball players, while also examining the influence of this injury prevention protocol upon different physiological and performance parameters. This study is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of XX (intervention) with standard warm-up (control) on injury rate during one complete competition season. Participant’s physical performance will be assessed twice, pre and post season. Throughout the season, injury rate will be monitored via Injury Surveillance System. It is anticipated that the findings of this project will help basketball players in Saudi Arabia and around the world identify cost effective injury prevention program.
Project Title:
Lifestyle Behaviours amongst Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Students and Employees – Cohort Study
PI: Shaima A. Alothman
Co PI:
Reem AlWhaibi, Ali AlAmri, Asma B Omer, Abeer Alzaben
Project Summary:
The complete spectrum of lifestyle behaviors including physical activity, sleep, nutrition, stress, social relationships, and smoking are rarely studied as a cluster. Further, the associations of these lifestyle behaviors with comorbidities are typically assessed individually or with two to three behaviors at most. This study aims to evaluate lifestyle behaviors as a cluster among students and employees at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University. Lifestyle behaviors will be assessed subjectively via Health-Promoting Lifestyle profile II questionnaire. It is anticipated that the findings of the present study to provide valuable information about lifestyle behaviors and any potential areas of need for health promotion programs.
Project Title:
Post-COVID-19 Effects & Prevalence of Healthier Lifestyle Behaviors across Young to Middle-Aged
PI: Shaima A. Alothman, Sonia Rawal
Co PI:
Binh An Nguyen, Braeden Crites, Georgianna Dascalos, Minh Thi Nguyen
Project Summary:
COVID-19 had an immense impact on the world in many different aspects. Lifestyle and behavioral changes are very prevalent. The effects of contracting COVID-19, long and short term, and the information is still up for debate in the medical community. Hence, our research study is aiming to answer the question, “How has COVID-19 affected recovered young to middle-aged adults regarding their overall lifestyle, behaviors, and quality of life when compared to their pre-COVID state?” With the lack of research gathered on the personal effects of having contracted COVID-19 and a solid understanding of how the virus has affected the population globally.
Project Title:
Kinetics of Oxygen Consumption and Fatigability during Walking among Individuals with Excess Body Fat
PI: Monira Aldhahi
Co PI:
Shaima A. Alothman, Abdullah Alghannam, Alaa Almasud
Project Summary:
To determine the difference in oxygen consumption (VO2) on-kinetics between individuals with different body fat, and it is an association with fatigability severity during moderate-intensity treadmill exercise. Design: a cross-sectional study. Participants: a convenience sample of 60 individuals, allocated into four groups. Main Outcomes: VO2 on-kinetics indices measured during bouts of treadmill walking. Performance fatigability index during the10-minute walk test will be used as the outcome measure of functional performance fatigability
Project Title:
Prevalence of sarcopenia among Saudis and its association with lifestyle behaviors: protocol for cross-sectional study
PI: Abdullah F. Alghannam
Co PI:
Alaa A. Almasud, Suliman A. Alghnam, Dalal S. Alharbi, Mohanad S. Aljubairi, Arwa S. Altalhi, Azad M. Jan, Shaima A. Alothman
Project Summary:
Sarcopenia–an age-related muscular disease manifesting as a loss of muscle function and mass–leads to detrimental consequences at both individual and community levels. Modifiable lifestyle factors (such as physical behaviors and nutritional habits) may be involved in sarcopenia etiology. European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Population (EWGOSP2) established a cut-off point for sarcopenia diagnosis based on the European population and they recommend the use of a regional normative population. However, no sufficient data on sarcopenia prevalence is presently available in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this project aims to define appropriate reference values from healthy Saudi young adults (Phase I) and to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in Saudi Arabia (Phase II) and examine selected modifiable lifestyle correlates of sarcopenia (Phase I, II).
Project Title:
The association between dietary patterns and sedentary behaviors with body composition parameters among Saudi office-based workers
PI: Dr .Shaima A. Alothman, PT, PhD
Co PI:
Ghada I. Alhoumedan, BSc., Clin Nutr
Muhanad S. Aljubairi, MSc
Alaa A. Al Masud, PhD
Project Summary:
Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, are well-known risk factors of obesity. Such behaviors have been recently increasing noticeably in the working population due to many factors, including rapid technological changes and economic advances resulting in a reduction in physically active jobs and a rise in sedentary occupations. However, little is known about the role of sedentary behaviors and poor diet with body composition parameters in Saudi office-based workers. Thus, this study will examine the association between macronutrient intake and sedentary behaviors (SB) with body composition parameters such as fat mass (FM), and waist to hip ratio (WHR) among Saudi office-based workers. Objective measurement will be used to measure sedentary behavior; moreover, a prospective dietary method; three‐days estimated food diary record, will be used to assess dietary intake. Lastly, body composition of the subject will be analyzed by using bioimpedence analyzer. All and all, valuable information is to be generated in Saudi Arabia in this context, which is of beneficial for the developing and designing health promotion strategies for managing obesity.
Project Title:
Measurement of Resting Metabolic Rate among Saudis: Impact of Sex, Age and Body Composition
PI: Dr. Alaa A Almasud, PhD
Co PI:
Professor. Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, PhD, FACSM, FECSS
Dr. Abdullah AlGhannam, PT, PhD, FACN, FRSPH
Dr .Shaima A. AlOthman, PT, PhD
Ms. Nada M. Albawardi, PT, MPH
Project Summary:
The present investigation aims to assess resting metabolic rate (RMR) among Saudi population, including children, adolescents, and adults of both sexes. In addition, this research aims to validate common predictive equations that estimate RMR in underweight, normal, overweight, and obese participants. This cross-sectional investigation will involve at least 400 participants from the community. Anthropometric data are going to be collected and RMR is going to be measured by indirect calorimetry for 20 minutes following an overnight fast. Measurements will be conducted in the Lifestyle and Health Research Center using Metalyzer stationary gas analyzer system (Cotrex, Germany). Common predictive equations such as Harris-Benedict, Mifflin-St Jeor, Owen,et al, and, WHO equations will be validated. Habitual physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviours are going to be measured using validated questionnaire. Body composition will be assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA).
Project Title:
Development & Validation of an Arabic Sedentary Behaviors Questionnaire (ASBQ)
PI: Professor Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa, PhD, FACSM, FECSS
Co PI: Shaima A. AlOthman, PT, PhD
Co I:
Nada M. Albawardi, PT, MPH
Abdullah AlGhannam, PT, PhD, FACN, FRSPH
Alaa A Almasud, PhD
Project Summary:
With the increased reliance on technology, electronic communication, heavy use of transportation, and accelerated urbanization, sedentary behaviors are becoming very prevalent globally as well as locally. Prolonged sitting has been associated with cardiovascular diseases risks and increased mortality even while controlling for leisure time physical activity levels. Measurement of sedentary behaviors by objective instruments very costly, requires technical expertise and is very challenging in terms of time and management, especially when testing large groups of people. Currently, there is no validated self-reported instrument in Arabic that can be used to assess sedentary behaviors among adolescents or adults and relate such sedentary activity to social, environmental and health outcomes. Therefore, the main aim of the present research project is to develop an Arabic sedentary behaviors questionnaire along with testing its content, construct and criterion validity as well as examining internal consistency and test re-test reliability. The developmental and testing the psychometric properties of the questionnaire will consist of the following phases: phase 1: constructing the questionnaire’s items, phase 2: testing content validity, phase 3: pre-testing the developed questionnaire, phase 4: testing the internal consistency of the questionnaire’s items, phase 5: testing the construct validity of the questionnaire, phase 6: testing the reliability of the questionnaire, and phase 7: testing the criterion validity of the questionnaire, using activPAL accelerometer as the criterion measure. It is highly anticipated that the developed and validated instrument will be vastly received by local and regional researchers and will hopefully contribute to more understanding of the sedentary activity of the Saudi population and its determinants and associations with social, environmental and health outcomes. The validated sedentary behaviors instrument will also have a significant role in testing any future intervention aimed at reducing sedentary behaviors among Saudi population.
Project Title:
The Association between Sleep and Cognitive Performance in Saudi Arabia
PI: Shaima A. Alothman, PhD, PT
Co PI:
Norah Alhowaish, B.S, CRC; Azad Jan, M.S
Project Summary:
Sleep is an essential factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which is primitive in the recovery of body and brain. Many studies have shown the impact of poor sleep on cognitive abilities, as it affects the process of learning and memory functioning. Nonetheless, little is known about the impact of sleep duration and quality on the cognitive functioning in healthy adults. The aim of this study is to assess the association between sleep quality and quantity and cognitive abilities among the lifestyle and health research center workers. The participants will be recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sleep will be assessed using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and cognition will be assessed using Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA) to find the association between sleep and cognitive performance. The findings of the present study is expected to highlight the relationship between sleep and cognitive performance among office workers.
Project Title:
Childhood Obesity: Parents-children lifestyle behaviors and associated anthropometric, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and metabolic factors
(PNU-Childhood Obesity Study)
PI : Prof. Hazzaa M. Al-Hazzaa
Co PI:
Ahlam M. Alotaibi, MD, CABP, SBP
Nada M. Albawardi, PT, MPH
Abdullah F. Alghannam, PT, PhD
Alaa A Almasud, PhD
Najla A. AlGariri, MD, SBP, ABP
Shaima A. Alothman, PhD PT
Project Summary:
The prevalence of pediatric obesity has risen alarmingly across both developed and developing countries in recent years. In Saudi Arabia, pediatric obesity is becoming prevalent and the recent transition in lifestyle with associated changes in nutrition have largely contributed to the increase in obesity prevalence observed among Saudi children and youth. Therefore, the aim of the present research project is to investigate the complex associations between lifestyle behaviors, sociodemographic characteristics, children’s quality of life, body image, self-esteem, and home and built environment of obese children and their parents with children’s anthropometric, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and metabolic functions. Comprehensive baseline data will be collected from overweight and obese children and adolescents and their family and compared with a group of normal weight children and adolescents. We will also be looking into different interfamilial associations and differences between children and adolescents with and without obesity. The study sample will include all overweight or obese children and adolescents (250 participants), from the obesity clinic at King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAAUH) as well as their parents along with 120 healthy non-overweight non-obese children and adolescents from the pediatric clinic in KAAUH and nearby community. Ethical permission will be sought from IRB at PNU. The following extensive variables are going to be assessed and studied: anthropometric measurements, skeletal maturation, body composition measurement, blood pressure, resting metabolic rate, maximal cardiopulmonary function, blood lipids, fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, insulin resistance, resting heart rate and heart rate variability, central pressure and pulse wave velocity, physical activity levels, sedentary behaviors, sleep patterns, dietary intake, vitamin D level, muscular strength and flexibility, bone density, child’s quality of life, body image perception, self-esteem, and home and built environment. Also, will be included the following biomarkers: leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, Peptide YY, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, inflammatory markers IL-6, CRP and FTO gene. It is expected that the findings of the present study will provide valuable data on obesity correlates and determinants among Saudi children and adolescents, which will have significant implications for the health and well-being of Saudi children and youth. Such important information can be used effectively for planning and executing children’s health promotion programs, weight control strategies and lifestyle interventions.