Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 106, November - December, 2020
The association between obesity/overweight and demographical characteristics in Northern Saudi Arabia
Hussain Gadelkarim Ahmed1,2♦, Abdulaziz Fahhad Saleh Alanazi1, Hani Abdulrhman Almutairi1, Raed Alasmar Bin Museibb Alenezi1, Abdullah Selmi Suliman Alfarsi1, Abdulmajeed Saud AlTamimi1, Abdulrhman Fahad Hamad Alrashedy1, Hamad Abdulrahman Hamad Alrasheedi1
1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Histopathology and Cytology, FMLS, University of Khartoum, Sudan
♦Corresponding author
Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il,
Saudi Arabia;
Email: Hussaingad5@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Background: Many factors have been claimed to contribute to the increased rates of obesity/overweight in Saudi Arabia. Therefore,
the present study aimed to assess the association between obesity/overweight and demographical characteristics in Northern Saudi
Arabia. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional survey that included 315 volunteers living in the city of Hai'l, Northern Saudi Arabia
were included during October 2020. Both Saudi and non-Saudi civilians were included in the study. The participants were randomly
selected by a simple random method regardless of age, gender, or other demographical characteristics. Results: The present study
investigated 315 volunteers (281 males and 34 females) aged 17 to 56 years with a mean age± STD= 21.2±6.1. The body mass index
(BMI) ranged from 14.9 to 47.88with a mean of 26.12 ±6.3. Obesity and overweight represented 75/315(24%), and 109/315(35%) in
this order, as shown in Fig 1. About 65/381(23%), and 100/281(36%) of the males were obese and overweight, respectively, whereas,
10/34(29.4%) and 9/34(26.5%) were obese and overweight in that order. Conclusion: Obesity/overweight still prevalent in Northern
Saudi Arabia. Living in urban areas, being married, educated, having a high family income, and an employee is a risk of gaining
weight (Obesity/overweight).
Keywords: Obesity, overweight, Saudi Arabia, demographical, BMI
Medical Science, 2020, 24(106), 4053-4058
