Population-based epidemiological study of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia, regional variation

This is a study of the pattern of distribution of body mass index and prevalence of overweight and obesity among the population of different regions of Saudi Arabia. It is a cross-sectional population-based national epidemiological randomized household survey. There were 13,177 Saudi subjects, over the age of 15 years. The sample was representative and in accordance with the national population distribution with respect to age, gender, regional and residency population distribution. Height and weight were measured for all study population. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. WHO criteria was used for definition of overweight and obesity. The obesity/overweight (ob/ow) ratio was used to study the relation between prevalence of overweight and obesity. Mean BMI values for female subjects were significantly higher than for male subjects across all regions. Mean BMI values were highest at the fifth decade for male and female subjects in all regions. Mean and 90th percentile of BMI values of male and female subjects of the Eastern region across all age groups were higher than for other regions. There was a progressive increase in prevalence of overweight with age among male subjects; the highest prevalence was achieved in the age group 51-60 years across all the regions. The overall prevalence of overweight was higher among male subjects across all the regions. There was a progressive increase in the prevalence of obesity with age among male and female subjects. The highest was achieved in the age group of 41-50 years across all the regions. Then was a regional variation with respect to the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi subjects. The prevalence of overweight was higher among male subjects across all the regions, while the prevalence of obesity was higher among female subjects across all the regions. A high prevalence of obesity was observed in most of the regions. Underlying factors such as lifestyle, nutritional habits, social and cultural beliefs and habits in different regions need to be studied. There is a need to establish a national control program for combating obesity and related complications.