Alshahre Amer H, Alqahtani Saad A, Alsharif Maryam S, Alyahya Alaa A, Alsmail Maher A, Almasabi Abdulaziz S, Abumelha Waleed S
Family Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, SAU.
Psychiatry, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushait, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 13;17(6):e85907. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85907. eCollection 2025 Jun.
The escalating prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia raises concerns about its impact on mental health. This meta-analysis explores the associations between obesity and the prevalence of depression and anxiety within the distinctive cultural context of Saudi Arabia. A systematic review identified 12 cross-sectional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia, collectively involving 17,232 participants. Pooled effect sizes were calculated for depression and anxiety outcomes among obese and overweight individuals. Heterogeneity was assessed, and subgroup analyses were planned to explore potential sources of variation. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between obesity and overall depression (OR = 1.42, 95% CI (1.07, 1.87)), severe depression (OR = 1.76, 95% CI (1.08, 2.86)), and severe anxiety (OR = 1.62, 95% CI (1.24, 2.11)). Severe anxiety was also significantly associated with overweight status (OR = 1.46, 95% CI (1.12, 1.90)). However, no significant associations were found between depression and overweight status. Subgroup analyses were hindered by limited data. The overall prevalence of depression among obese individuals was 25.02%, and for anxiety, it was 29.23%. This meta-analysis provides robust evidence supporting the association between obesity and both severe depression and severe anxiety in the Saudi Arabian population. The findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health issues in individuals with higher BMIs. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms of this association and evaluate the effectiveness of tailored interventions to promote holistic well-being in this population. These insights contribute to the development of targeted public health strategies for addressing the complex interplay between mental health and weight status in Saudi Arabia.
沙特阿拉伯肥胖率的不断上升引发了人们对其对心理健康影响的担忧。这项荟萃分析在沙特阿拉伯独特的文化背景下，探讨了肥胖与抑郁症和焦虑症患病率之间的关联。一项系统综述确定了在沙特阿拉伯进行的12项横断面研究，总共涉及17232名参与者。计算了肥胖和超重个体中抑郁症和焦虑症结果的合并效应量。评估了异质性，并计划进行亚组分析以探索潜在的变异来源。荟萃分析显示，肥胖与总体抑郁症（OR = 1.42，95% CI（1.07，1.87））、重度抑郁症（OR = 1.76，95% CI（1.08，2.86））和重度焦虑症（OR = 1.62，95% CI（1.24，2.11））之间存在显著关联。重度焦虑症也与超重状态显著相关（OR = 1.46，95% CI（1.12，1.90））。然而，未发现抑郁症与超重状态之间存在显著关联。亚组分析因数据有限而受阻。肥胖个体中抑郁症的总体患病率为25.02%，焦虑症为29.23%。这项荟萃分析提供了有力证据，支持沙特阿拉伯人群中肥胖与重度抑郁症和重度焦虑症之间的关联。研究结果强调了在体重指数较高的个体中解决心理健康问题的重要性。未来的研究应探索这种关联的潜在机制，并评估针对性干预措施对促进该人群整体健康的有效性。这些见解有助于制定有针对性的公共卫生策略，以应对沙特阿拉伯心理健康与体重状况之间的复杂相互作用。
