The Prevalence of Obesity Among Saudi Males in the Riyadh Region

Abstract

Attendees of 15 health centers in Urban and rural areas in the Riyadh region were screened for obesity during May and June 1994. Systemic selection yielded 1580 Saudi males for analysis. The mean age was 33.6 ± 13.5 years and body mass index (BMI) was 26.9 ± 5.7 kg/m 2 . Only 36.6% of subjects were their ideal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m 2 ), while 34.8% were overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m 2 ), 26.9% were moderately obese (BMI 3.0-40 kg/m 2 ) and 1.7% were morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m 2 ). Middle age, lower education and joblessness predicted a higher risk for obesity. Patients living in rural areas had greater BMIs than those living in urban areas (P < 0.01). Forty percent of overweight participants did not think they were so. The high prevalence of obesity and the lack of awareness among those afflicted emphasizes the need for community-based programs for preventing and reducing obesity, since weight control is effective in ameliorating most of the disorders associated with obesity, such as Type II non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, sleep apnea syndrome and osteoarthritis of the knees. Young parents who are at risk of developing obesity and who play a central role in perpetuating it in their offspring should be the target of obesity-prevention programs. Ann Saudi Med 1996; 16(3):269-273. Obesity is a common chronic disorder in affluent societies, with serious effects on health and longevity.1 It is associated with the increased frequency of a number of diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, elevated serum cholesterol, arthrosis, gout and gallbladder disease.2 These co-morbidities contribute to the excess mortality observed among the obese. In addition, obesity plays a direct role in the development of coronary artery disease. 3Over the past two decades, Saudi Arabia has undergone remarkable and rapid economic development. 4 This has brought with it some of the diseases associated with affluence, of which obesity is one of the most obvious and important in view of the manner in which it increases the risk for morbidity and mortality.A small retrospective study has shown obesity to be prevalent in Saudis living in the Eastern province. 5 Few other studies have addressed this issue in Saudi Arabia and neighboring Arab Gulf countries. [6][7][8][9][10][11] We have previously reported on the high prevalence of clinically significant obesity among Saudi females, 12 but there are no studies of obesity and its associated risk factors among males in central Saudi Arabia. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated risk factors among Saudi men attending primary health care centers in Riyadh. MethodsA cross-sectional study was undertaken which included urban and rural health centers in the Riyadh region. Eleven urban and four rural health centers were randomly selected. Saudi male patients attending these health centers were included.The study was conducted over two months (May and June 1994). Systematic sampling was used to select...

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