Prevalence, awareness, attitudes, practices, and associated factors of obesity among adults in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

Obesity is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world, impairing both life expectancy and quality of life. Despite existing knowledge and awareness about obesity, significant gaps remain in understanding its associated factors and the effectiveness of interventions. This study estimates the prevalence of obesity, identifies its associated factors, and assesses participants' awareness, attitudes, and practices concerning obesity.

METHODS

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 adults visiting primary care facilities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. A structured, pre-validated questionnaire adapted from previous research was used to collect demographic information and assess respondents' awareness, attitude, and practices regarding obesity.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 41.8 ± 2.2 years, and 57.6% were females. Most respondents (97.8%) did not smoke, 32.1% had a family history of obesity, 86.1% consumed an unhealthy diet, and 76.6% did not engage in physical exercise. Approximately 37% of participants were overweight or obese. The study found that 85.9% of participants had a good awareness of obesity, 51.4% demonstrated a favorable attitude, and 33.4% exhibited adequate practices regarding obesity. A considerable proportion of participants (56.3%) recognized obesity based on self-perception. Approximately 38% of participants consumed high-calorie meals when stressed, 24.7% did not get sufficient sleep, and 64.4% did not drink enough water. Most of the participants (91.6%) perceived obesity as a disease, and 60.3% were satisfied with their body shapes. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the strongest predictors of obesity were poor awareness of obesity (OR = 10.6, p < 0.001), followed by irregular exercise (OR = 6.3, p < 0.05), and being female (OR = 4.8, p < 0.001). Adequate water intake was found to decrease the likelihood of obesity (OR = 0.1, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Obesity is prevalent among adults in Makkah. Despite a favorable attitude and a good awareness of most aspects relating to obesity, inappropriate practices are common. Additional action and decisions are required to put awareness and attitude into practice.