The Analysis on Obesity in Saudi Arabia

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There are various health problems experienced by various people across the globe. These problems may arise from different lifestyles, feeding habits and even hereditary. One of such disease is obesity. This paper seeks to give an in-depth analysis on obesity with special consideration to Saudi Arabia.

The number of persons in the world suffering from obesity has been on the increase. This disease is observed to affect both genders. As a result, combined efforts by all the stakeholders are necessary in order to educate all persons on how to control and avoid it. According to various research conducted, it is observed that overall; women are more prone to being obese. This is clearly illustrated in the table below.

Table 1: Comparison of Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Young People in Different Countries

Country Overweight (%) Obesity (%)
Males Females Males Females
Australia 34 24 7 7
Italy 39 25 7 6
Saudi Arabia 30.7 28.4 14.2 23.9
Sweden 35 24 7 8
USA 34 24 12 12

In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of the condition cannot be assumed. There have been various researches conducted by the World Health Organization in relation to obesity. The investigations are mainly conducted with the aim of quantifying the penetration of the disease to many regions of the country. In one of the research conducted on young people with obesity in Saudi Arabia, the results indicated that men were less affected by the condition. This is clearly illustrated in the table below.

Table 2: Comparison of Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among Young People in Saudi Arabia by Percentage (%)

BMI kg/mآ² Females Males
BMI >= 30 kg/mآ² 19.6 17.8
BMI >= 25 kg/mآ² 42.9 38.9
BMI 25-29.99 kg/mآ² 23 21.1

In Saudi Arabia, the distribution of obese conditions is not uniform in all the regions. This is mainly attributed to the different lifestyles and feeding habits adopted by various persons according to the region they reside. According to the investigations conducted, regions such as Hail, Al Qasim and Tabuk are more affected than Jizan, Madinah and Asir among others. A clear representation of the obese percentage in various regions of Saudi Arabia is clearly presented in the table below.

Table 3: Prevalence of Obesity in Different Regions by Percentage (%)

Region Obesity
Hail 33.9
East Region 27.7
Al Qasim 26.5
Tabuk 25.2
Al Taif 23.9
Riyadh 21.7
Makkah 19.3
Jeddah 16.2
Asir 16.2
Madinah 15.1
Jizan 11.7

Obesity is mainly manifested by increased fat in the body. This usually alters with the normal body metabolism and processes. As a result, the constraints imposed lead to the body being prone to other health conditions and diseases. Some of the most common diseases associated with obesity include Diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, back pain, heart disease and asthma. These health complications related to obesity are not only applicable to Saudi Arabia alone but to all countries across the globe. A precise representation of the chronic diseases associated with obesity among women in the Gulf countries is illustrated in the table below.

Table 4: Chronic Diseases Associated with Obesity Among Women In Gulf Countries By Percentage (%)

Diseases Status Obese Non-Obese
Diabetes Infected 12.1 18.1
Non-Infected 87.9 81.9
High blood pressure Infected 12.9 23.3
Non-Infected 87.1 76.7
Arthritis Infected 13.8 25.1
Non-Infected 86.2 74.9
Back pain Infected 27.6 33.5
Non-Infected 72.4 66.5
Heart disease Infected 4.3 7.0
Non-Infected 95.7 93.0
Asthma Infected 9.5 15.8
Non-Infected 90.5 84.2

There are various lifestyles adopted by various persons according to their location and resources. Some lifestyles are characterized with less physical body exercise and thus fat accumulation in the body is evident. In getting a clear indication of the influence of various factors and lifestyles to the obese condition, factors such as availability of housemaid, family history of obesity, smoking, watching television, walking regularly and exercise were considered. Some factors such as family history on obesity and exercise were observed to have much contribution to the probability of a person suffering from obesity. A detailed table of the various lifestyles and factors contributing to obesity by percentage of adult people in Gulf countries is given below.

Table 5: Factors and Lifestyle Patterns Associated with Obesity Among Adult People In Gulf Countries By Percentage (%)

Factors Obese Non-Obese
Available of house maid Yes 75.9 24.1
No 83.0 17.0
Family History of Obesity Yes 81.5 28.5
No 75.7 24.3
History of Diabetes Yes
No
Smoking Yes 23.5 35.1
No 76 64.9
Watching Television Rarely or occasionally 18.2 27.0
Daily 81.8 73.0
Walking Regularly Yes 64.4 70.1
No 35.6 29.9
Exercise Yes 73.9 26.1
No 82.9 17.1

It is evident that feeding is necessary to maintain the body’s processes. The feeding pattern is not uniform to all people and is observed to have some contribution to the degree one is prone to obesity. In addition, the quantity and components of the meals are important. For example, taking too many fruits or none contributes of the obese condition and thus taking the quantity required by the body is necessary. A detailed analysis of the meals and food patterns associated with obesity is given in the table below.

Table 6: Meal and Food Patterns Associated with Obesity Among Young Women In Gulf Countries By Percentage (%)

Factors Obese Non-Obese
Number of Meals a day <3 82.4 17.6
3+ 77.5 22.5
Snacks in the morning meals Yes 79.6 20.4
No 78.2 21.8
Snacks in the evening meals Yes 76.8 23.2
No 82.6 17.4
Fruit intake per week 1-3 24.7 40.8
4 75.3 59.1
Vegetable intake per week 1-3 16.2 19.0
4 83.8 81.0

The marital status of a person is observed to bear some importance in relation to obesity. It is observed that married women are more prone to obese than single women. A detailed analysis of marital status and obesity among women in the gulf countries is given in the table below.

Table 7: Marital Status Associated with Obesity Among Women In Gulf Countries By Percentage (%)

Status Marital Status
Married Signal
Underweight 59.3 40.7
Normal weight 68.5 31.5
Overweight 81.9 18.1
Obesity 86.4 13.6

The importance of education has been evident in sectors of life. This has led to increase in the number of students in educational institutions. In Saudi Arabia, the number of students enrolling for primary school has been on the increase although it has not been directly reflected in secondary school enrolment. A detailed representation of primary and secondary school enrolment in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2009 is given in the tables below

Table 8: Primary School Enrolment in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2009 by Percentage (%Net)

2007 2008 2009
84 85 86

Table 9: Secondary School Enrolment in Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2009 by Percentage (%Net)

2007 2008 2009
73 69 72

The number of students who progresses to secondary school after the completion of primary school studies has been somehow stagnant. Despite this, more females than men have progressed to secondary school as illustrated below.

Table 10: Progression to Secondary School From Primary School in Saudi Arabia Between Female and Male by Percentage (%)

Years 2007 2008
Female 97 97
Male 92 91

In tertiary schools in Saudi Arabia, more students have been enrolled from 2006 to 2009. This is clearly illustrated in the table below.

Table 11: School Enrolment, Tertiary in Saudi Arabia from 2006 to 2009 by Percentage (%Gross)

2006 2007 2008 2009
30 31 32 33

The level of education among various persons is very crucial in making decisions on various activities undertaken by a person. It is evident that learned persons are better placed to make better decision. In relation to obesity, researches have shown that people with high education levels and the employed are less prone to obesity than those with low education levels and non-employed. A detailed analysis of the level of education and obesity among women in Gulf countries is given in the table below.

Table 12: Level of Education Associated with Obesity Among Women in Gulf Countries by Percentage (%)

Status Level of education
Low Education Middle Education High Education
Underweight 29.6 22.2 48.1
Normal weight 38.2 24.7 37.1
Overweight 39.9 31.4 29.5
Obesity 53.6 32.7 13.6

Table 13: Employment Status Associated with Obesity Among Women in Gulf Countries by Percentage (%)

Status Employment Status
Underweight Employed Unemployed
Normal weight 33.3 66.7
Overweight 36.0 64.0
Obesity 26.7 73.3

There are various sources of information on nutrition among various people. For adolescent girls in Gulf countries, the source of nutrition information includes books, magazines, television, health workers, relatives and friends as shown below.

Table 14: Sources of Nutrition Information Among Adolescent Girls in Gulf Countries by Percentage (%)

Sources Obese Non-Obese
Books 30.4 28.4
Magazines 26.2 29.5
Television 8.1 10.2
Health workers 13.0 11.4
Relatives and Friends 9.3 4.5
Other 13.0 15.9

Table 15. Summary of Systemic Search

Database Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3 Wave 4 Wave 5 Wave6 Wave7
Annals of Saudi Medicine 426 355 278 210 165 56 10
Google Scholar 6680 597 253 100 8 7 7
King Feisal University 6689 4579 877 346 76 10 4
Medline-Ovid 102944 24438 125690 9661 8825 148 1
Scopus 130398 12051 1652 653 512 98 2
Science Direct 218813 29014 3274 2293 591 381 3
Web of Knowledge 196972 43594 9706 5197 3409 573 6
WHO 126679 56799 9765 544 67 35 2
Total 35 Articles

Conclusion

It is evident that obesity is affecting many people in the Gulf countries as well as other countries. As a result, proper education on the causes and prevention to all persons would be of great help in controlling and curbing the health condition.

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