HEALTH EDUCATION JOURNAL zyxw (1995) zyx 54, 198-202 Influence of lifestyle behaviours on obesity among Chinese adolescents in Singapore Mee Lian Wongl David Koh, James Lee, Moh Hoon Lee, Yoke Tien Fong ABSTRACT zyxwvu A case-control study was carried out in 1992 on 178 obese and 536 normal weight Chinese Singaporean adolescents to identify lifestyle behaviours associated with obesity. An inverse dose-response gradient of physical exercise to obesity was found in both genders. For females, obesity risk was statistically associated with those whose parents were food vendors, and for malcs, it was statistically associated with the practice of eating supper out regularly. Among the obese students, girls were statistically more likely than boys to eat in response to depression, stress and boredom. INTRODUCTION Obesity is becoming a major public health concern in developed countries'. In Singapore, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index (BMI) b 25 among schoolchildren aged 6 to 17 years has risen from 5.4 per cent in 1980 to 15.1 per cent in 1991'. A national health survey carried out in 1992 found zyx 5 per cent of adult Singaporeans to be moderately obsese (BMI > 30) and 21 per cent to be mildly obese or overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9)3. Obesity is associated with illnesses such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, which are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in Singapore. Several studies in North America and Europe have documented the strong influence of lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity, diet and television watching on the risk of becoming obese"-'. Less is known of its influence in the East where lifestyles may be somewhat different. For example, it is a common practice among Singaporeans to take meals at food-stall-centres, most of which sell food at affordable prices and are conveniently located in residential areas. Mee Lian Wong, MPH, MBBS, Senior Lecturer, David Koh, PhD, MBBS, Senior Lecturer, and James Lee, PhD, MSc, Associate Professor, Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 051 1 Moh Hoon Lee, MBBS, Deputy Head and Yoke Tien Fong, MSc(OM), MBBS. Head. Healthy Lifestyle Centre, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore. Correspondence to Dr Mee Lian Wong. 198