Alrubaiee Gamil Ghaleb, Alqalah Talal Ali, Alkubati Sameer A, Al-Rabeei Nabil A
Department of Community Health, College of Nursing, University of Hail, Hail, 2440, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Community Health and Clinical Nutrition, Al-Razi University, Sana'a, Yemen.
BMC Public Health. 2025 May 31;25(1):2021. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23164-7.
The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity among Saudi university students, while the secondary aim was to explore the associations of overweight/obesity and various lifestyle habits.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2023. A random sample of 420 students aged 21-26 years was selected with a male-to-female ratio of 0.99:1. The data were collected using questionnaires and anthropometric instruments. The data were analysed using the chi-square test and forward stepwise binary logistic regression. Statistical significance was determined using a p value of less than 0.05.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 26.4% (95% CI: 22.3%, 30.9%) and 17.1% (95% CI: 13.7%, 21.1%), respectively. Furthermore, 53.6% of the female students were overweight or obese, while 33.5% of the male students were overweight or obese. The most significant predictors of overweight or obesity were female sex, smoking status, frequent consumption of meals at restaurants and university cafeterias, regular consumption of rice and chocolate (three or more times per week), and engagement in emotional eating in response to being upset/nervous or bored.
The study's findings revealed an alarming prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi university students. Unhealthy lifestyle habits, dietary patterns, and psychological factors have been identified as contributing factors to this issue. Consequently, universities should implement structured health promotion programs that include nutrition education, expanded access to fitness facilities, awareness campaigns on healthy eating, and targeted strategies for obesity prevention..
本研究的主要目的是评估沙特大学生中超重/肥胖的患病率，次要目的是探讨超重/肥胖与各种生活方式习惯之间的关联。
于2023年1月至3月进行了一项描述性横断面研究。随机抽取了420名年龄在21至26岁之间的学生，男女比例为0.99:1。使用问卷和人体测量工具收集数据。采用卡方检验和向前逐步二元逻辑回归分析数据。使用p值小于0.05来确定统计学显著性。
超重和肥胖的患病率分别为26.4%（95%置信区间：22.3%，30.9%）和17.1%（95%置信区间：13.7%，21.1%）。此外，53.6%的女学生超重或肥胖，而33.5%的男学生超重或肥胖。超重或肥胖的最显著预测因素是女性性别、吸烟状况、经常在餐馆和大学食堂就餐、经常食用米饭和巧克力（每周三次或更多次）以及因心烦/紧张或无聊而情绪化进食。
研究结果显示沙特大学生中超重和肥胖的患病率令人担忧。不健康的生活方式习惯、饮食模式和心理因素已被确定为导致这一问题的因素。因此，大学应实施结构化的健康促进计划，包括营养教育、扩大健身设施的使用机会、开展健康饮食宣传活动以及制定有针对性的肥胖预防策略。
