Obesity

​Obesity Statistics Worldwide
In adults
World Health Organization statistics for 2016 indicate that more than 1.9 billion adults (18 years and over) suffer from being overweight, and 650 million people suffer from obesity. If the spread of obesity continues its current path, half of adult population of the world will suffer from overweight or obesity by 2030. Obesity is also a major burden on the global economy, amounting to about $2.0 trillion (2.8%) of global GDP. Therefore, obesity is considered one of the largest economic losses in the world, and it is responsible for about 5% of Deaths around the world.
In children
  • 41 million children under the age of five suffer from obesity.
  • 340 million children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 are obese.
Obesity among adults in the Kingdom, according to the results of the National Health Information Survey for the year 2019:
  • The obesity rate in Saudi Arabia among adults (18 and over) reached 20.2%, and overweight 38.2%.
  • The prevalence of obesity was higher among women at 21.4% compared to men at 19.2%.
The percentage of children who suffer from overweight and obesity in the Kingdom in 2012 was:
Children under five:
  • 15% are overweight.
  • 6% suffer from obesity.
Children five years and older:
  • 23% are overweight.
  • 9.3%  suffer from obesity.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranks third in the Arab world in obesity rates
Given that obesity is linked to many chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, obesity was classified by the American Medical Association in 2013 as one of the chronic diseases.

Definition of obesity:
Obesity is defined as an increase in body weight beyond the normal limit as a result of excessive or abnormal accumulation of fat, which harms the individual’s health. This increase results from an imbalance between the energy consumed from foods and the energy consumed by the body.

Ways to measure obesity
First: Weight classification using the body mass index for adults:
The most common measurement for ease of procedure is calculated by dividing the body weight in kilograms by the square of the height in meters to determine whether the weight of an adult is appropriate for his height. This indicator is used for adults aged 20 and over and is not used for the following categories such as athletes, children, adolescents, and pregnant women.
Table of classification of adults according to body mass index and incidence of diseases associated with obesity (WHO.1998):

​​​Weight c​lassification
​Body mass index (kg/m2)
​The risk of diseases associated with obesity
​Underweight (thin)
​Less than 18.5
​Suffering from diseases other than obesity
​Normal weight
​18.5-24.9
​-
​Weight gain (pre-obesity)
​25-29.9
​The risk increases
First degree obesity
​30-34.9
​middle
​Second degree obesity
​35-39.9
​Intense
​Third degree obesity (excessive)
​40 and more
​Very dangerous

Second: Weight classification for children and adolescents using Saudi growth charts for body mass index by age as follows:
  • The body mass index falls between 85% and 94% of the growth chart in the presence of weight gain.
  • The body mass index is at the 95% or higher level of the growth chart indicating obesity.
Weight classification table for children and adolescents using the Saudi growth curve according to age and gender:
​Category
​Growth chart for children and adolescents
​Under normal weight
5th >
​Normal weight
<85th 5 th_ ≥
​Overweight
​≥85th_ <95th
​Obesity
​≥ 95 th​​

 

Third: Classification of central obesity (accumulation of fat in the abdominal area) by measuring waist circumference:

Fat accumulated in the abdominal area is more dangerous than fat in the buttocks or any other part of the body, as people with central obesity are at greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and premature death. It can be used as an additional method in adults who suffer from overweight or first-degree obesity (BMI between 25-34.9 kg/m2).

This measurement is not used for the following cases:

  • Adults with a BMI of less than 25 or a BMI of 35 or above.
  • Athletes.
  • Children and adolescents (ages under 18 years).
  • Pregnant women (gestational age more than 20 weeks).
  • Those who cannot stand up straight (such as those who are crippled) or those who suffer from problems in the waist area (such as a hernia or tumor or who have undergone a recent surgical procedure).

 Central obesity classification table for adults according to waist circumference and number of chronic diseases:​

​Gender

​Normal rate
​Danger
​Extrem​e danger
​man
​Less than 94 cm
​From 94-101 cm
​102 or more
women​Less than 80 cm
​From 80-87 cm
​88 or more


Causes of obesity:
  1. Following an unhealthy diet and lack of movement (one of the reasons for the spread of obesity among children, which usually continues into adulthood. Social factors lead to the acquisition of wrong eating habits within the family).
  2. Some diseases, such as an underactive thyroid gland, Cushing’s syndrome, and others.
  3. Some medications, such as antidepressants, some diabetes medications, some epilepsy medications, and others.
  4. Lack of sleep.
  5. Getting older.
  6. Pregnancy.
  7. The genetic factor has a role in some cases of obesity.
Complications of obesity in adults:
  1. Heart disease.
  2. Stroke.
  3. ​Type 2 diabetes.
  4. High levels of cholesterol or triglycerides.
  5. High blood pressure.
  6. Arthritis and bones.
  7. Temporary sleep apnea
  8. Some psychological problems, such as poor self-confidence and social isolation, lead to depression.
  9. Some types of cancer, such as colon, rectum, breast, uterus, pancreas, prostate, esophagus, liver, and kidney cancer.
  10. Gallbladder diseases.
  11. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
  12. Gynecological diseases such as infertility and irregular menstruation.
  13. Skin problems, such as difficulty healing wounds.
Complications of obesity in children
  • Disease complications:
  1. Increased risk of diabetes (type 2).
  2. Cardiovascular diseases.
  3. Respiratory problems when playing and sleeping.
  4. Damage to joints.
  • Social and psychological complications: such as social isolation and loss of self-confidence, which leads to depression.
  • Complications that appear in old age: the persistence of obesity into advanced stages of life and the accompanying risks that threaten health
Methods of treating obesity:
  1. Follow a healthy diet and increase the level of physical activity.
  2. Behavioural modifications and changing nutritional and physical misconceptions.
  3. Weight loss medications under medical supervision and follow-up
  4. Obesity surgery according to the directions of the treating physician.
Obesity prevention:
Commitment to a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Preventing obesity in children through:
  1. Encourage children to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
  2.  Encourage the child to eat without distractions and limit screen time to less than two hours a day
  3. Encouraging the child to engage in physical activity for at least an hour in his daily schedule.
  4. Encourage the child to stay away from soft and sweetened drinks and replace them with drinking enough water daily.
Preventing obesity in adults:
  1. Reduce consumption of energy-dense foods.
  2. Eat main meals regularly.
  3. Eat high fiber foods.
  4. Eat slowly and control the portion of the meal.
  5. Drink enough water a day.
  6. Avoid unhealthy diets.
  7. Read the nutritional label behind the products for healthier choices.
  8. Do physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week and increase the daily rate by 300 minutes or more per week.
  9. Make sure to sleep well.
  10. Monitor the weight once a week.

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