| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 3
| Issue : 1 | Page : 12-17 |
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Obesity and overweight in a major family practice center, central region, Saudi Arabia
Ali Ibrahim Al-Haqwi1, Mansour Al-Nasir1, Nasreldin Ahmad2, Emad Masaudi2, Sultan S Alotaibi3, Bashir Hamad2
1 Department of Family Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Medical Education, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University of Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Family Medicine, Diabetic Center, Ministry of health, Qurayyat, Saudi Arabia
Correspondence Address:
Ali Ibrahim Al-Haqwi
Department of Family Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2347-2618.158690
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Background: Obesity and overweight are associated with significant health and health-related conditions, which have a negative impact on the quality of life. Objectives: To determine the proportion and characteristics of obesity among adults visiting a major family practice center in central Saudi Arabia and to compare the demographic and health-related conditions among obese and nonobese adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in a major family practice center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Patients attending the center between 1 st September and 30 th November 30, 2013 were interviewed using a data collection form developed to meet the objectives of the study. Logistic regression was used to generate the odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for the association of body mass index and risks factors. Results : A total number of 300 adult participants were included in this study. The mean age and standard deviation were 46 years (±17 years). The proportion of overweight and obesity in the total sample was 32% and 50% respectively. Frequency of obesity was found to increase with age till the age of 50 where it drops afterward. Obesity significantly affects the participants within the age group from 40 to 60 more than other age groups (P < 0.001). Obesity was significantly associated with female gender and marital status (P < 0.018 and 0.006, respectively). The presence of obesity was found to decline significantly with increasing level of education. The presence of obesity was more in patients who have other chronic medical problems and those who reported less exercise. In addition to nonsmoking status, stepwise multiple logistic regressions showed that low level of education and having chronic medical diseases especially hypertension could be considered as predictors of developing obesity. Conclusion: This study confirmed previously published data about the seriousness of overweight and obesity among adults in Saudi Arabia. Certain patient categories are at a higher risk as women, married, and less educated patients. The positive role of education was clearly demonstrated and highlights the important role in effective health education strategies to minimize the negative public impact of obesity and overweight. |
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