Alshangiti Arwa M, Aldossary Mohammed S, Abou-Hussein Abdulaziz I, Aloufi Wejdan J, El Dalatony Mervat M, Alomary Shaker A
General Directorate of Statistics and Information, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Statistics and Operation Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Glob Health Action. 2025 Dec;18(1):2477387. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2025.2477387. Epub 2025 Apr 9.
Obesity is a significant public health challenge in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with profound impacts on individual well-being and the healthcare system. Recent epidemiological studies have reported variable trends in obesity prevalence within the country. This population-based study aimed to estimate the prevalence, identify behavioral risk factors, and assess comorbidities associated with overweight and obesity using a nationally representative sample in KSA. Findings will inform targeted public health policies, optimize healthcare resource allocation, and support Saudi Vision 2030 goals by promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing chronic diseases.
This study analyzed data from the 2019 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia World Health Survey (KSAWHS), implemented by the Ministry of Health using a nationally representative sample. A stratified, three-stage sampling design based on the 2010 Census was used to select 10,000 households from 13 administrative regions. Data collection included socio-demographic, anthropometric measurements and medical information from consenting individuals. Continuous variables were summarized as mean ± SD, and univariate analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests. Logistic regression identified predictors of obesity and overweight, reporting odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analyses were conducted in SPSS (v29).
A total of 7930 adults across different regions in KSA were included in this study. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 20.3% and 38.7%, respectively. Overweight was significantly more prevalent in males (44.4%) than females (35.6%), whereas obesity was more common in females (22.1%) compared to males (18.6%) ( < 0.001). Regional differences were observed with the West region reporting the lowest prevalence of obesity (16.5%) and overweight (37.3%) ( < 0.001). Married individuals exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of both obesity and overweight ( < 0.001).
The burden of obesity and overweight in KSA is still alarming due to the associated risk of metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological disorders, affecting both patients and the healthcare system. Urgent interventions, including targeted public health campaigns, lifestyle modifications, and policy-driven strategies, are essential to curb obesity trends and promote long-term health improvements.
肥胖是沙特阿拉伯王国面临的一项重大公共卫生挑战，对个人健康和医疗系统产生深远影响。最近的流行病学研究报告了该国肥胖患病率的不同趋势。这项基于人群的研究旨在使用沙特阿拉伯具有全国代表性的样本，估计肥胖患病率，确定行为风险因素，并评估与超重和肥胖相关的合并症。研究结果将为有针对性的公共卫生政策提供信息，优化医疗资源分配，并通过促进更健康的生活方式和减少慢性病来支持沙特2030年愿景目标。
本研究分析了由卫生部实施的2019年沙特阿拉伯王国世界卫生调查（KSAWHS）的数据，该调查采用了具有全国代表性的样本。基于2010年人口普查的分层三阶段抽样设计用于从13个行政区中选取10000户家庭。数据收集包括来自同意参与的个体的社会人口统计学、人体测量学数据和医疗信息。连续变量总结为均值±标准差，并使用单因素方差分析和卡方检验进行单变量分析。逻辑回归确定了肥胖和超重的预测因素，报告了具有95%置信区间（CI）的比值比（OR）。分析在SPSS（v29）中进行。
本研究纳入了沙特阿拉伯不同地区的7930名成年人。肥胖和超重的总体患病率分别为20.3%和38.7%。超重在男性（44.4%）中的患病率显著高于女性（35.6%），而肥胖在女性（22.1%）中比男性（18.6%）更常见（<0.001）。观察到地区差异，西部地区报告的肥胖患病率（16.5%）和超重患病率（37.3%）最低（<0.001）。已婚个体的肥胖和超重患病率均显著更高（<0.001）。
由于肥胖和超重与代谢、心血管和心理疾病相关的风险，沙特阿拉伯的肥胖和超重负担仍然令人担忧，这对患者和医疗系统都有影响。包括有针对性的公共卫生运动、生活方式改变和政策驱动策略在内的紧急干预措施对于遏制肥胖趋势和促进长期健康改善至关重要。
