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Original Article
Online Published: 05 Feb 2019
 


Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population

Nehal Saad Jadou, Zainab Mohammed Alfaraj, Sara Abdulhameed Alahmad, Shaikah Nasser Abdullah Almudhee, Mohammed Saleh Alonazi, Atheer Mithqal Alaamri, Rawabi Hamad Algomaishy, Dabiah Abdullah Thagfan, Bayan Hassan Alraddady, Mona Ahmed Al Hamad.


Abstract
Background: It is well documented in previous studies that the prevalence of obesity is increasing among the Saudi population with decreased physical activities. The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of obesity in the Saudi population and its relation to physical activity in daily life.

Methodology: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among the general population of Saudi Arabia, during the period from August 1 to November 31, 2018. Data were collected using a predesigned online distributed questionnaire. Collected data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 22).

Results: The study included 1,182 participants in total, 59.1% of them were females. It was found that 43% of the studied population had normal body mass index (BMI), 24.8% overweight, 26.5% obese, and only 5.5% were underweight. Nearly, 42.2% of obese aged between 21 and 30 years, 73.8% of the underweight group were females, while 54% of obese were males (p<0.05). Marital status may play a role in BMI as 55.3% of overweight were married, while 61.8% of normal weight were single (p<0.05) and 36% of them worked in offices. There was a significant association between BMI and chronic disease as 7.8%, 5.5%, and 6.8% of overweight and 9.9%, 9.3%, and 16% of obese had diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, respectively (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant relationship between performing the muscular exercise, and BMI as 61% of normal people performed the exercise, while 84% of obese ones did not perform any exercise (p<0.05). Only 17% of obese individuals were active (p<0.05). When asked about the type of exercise they perform, 34.8% of normal weight people responded that they were walking regularly (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In the present study conducted among the Saudi population, BMI was found to be highly influenced by active daily life. We highly recommend decision makers to put more efforts into providing public awareness regarding the importance of active lifestyle and performing the regular exercises.

Key words: Saudi population, BMI, obesity, active daily life, normally required daily physical activity, regular muscular exercise


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Jadou NS, Alfaraj ZM, Alahmad SA, Almudhee SNA, Alonazi MS, Alaamri AM, Algomaishy RH, Thagfan DA, Alraddady BH, Hamad MAA. Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. IJMDC. 2019; 3(5): 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458

Web Style

Jadou NS, Alfaraj ZM, Alahmad SA, Almudhee SNA, Alonazi MS, Alaamri AM, Algomaishy RH, Thagfan DA, Alraddady BH, Hamad MAA. Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=25590 [Access: October 14, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Jadou NS, Alfaraj ZM, Alahmad SA, Almudhee SNA, Alonazi MS, Alaamri AM, Algomaishy RH, Thagfan DA, Alraddady BH, Hamad MAA. Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. IJMDC. 2019; 3(5): 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Jadou NS, Alfaraj ZM, Alahmad SA, Almudhee SNA, Alonazi MS, Alaamri AM, Algomaishy RH, Thagfan DA, Alraddady BH, Hamad MAA. Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. IJMDC. (2019), [cited October 14, 2025]; 3(5): 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


Harvard Style

Jadou, N. S., Alfaraj, . Z. M., Alahmad, . S. A., Almudhee, . S. N. A., Alonazi, . M. S., Alaamri, . A. M., Algomaishy, . R. H., Thagfan, . D. A., Alraddady, . B. H. & Hamad, . M. A. A. (2019) Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. IJMDC, 3 (5), 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


Turabian Style

Jadou, Nehal Saad, Zainab Mohammed Alfaraj, Sara Abdulhameed Alahmad, Shaikah Nasser Abdullah Almudhee, Mohammed Saleh Alonazi, Atheer Mithqal Alaamri, Rawabi Hamad Algomaishy, Dabiah Abdullah Thagfan, Bayan Hassan Alraddady, and Mona Ahmed Al Hamad. 2019. Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 3 (5), 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


Chicago Style

Jadou, Nehal Saad, Zainab Mohammed Alfaraj, Sara Abdulhameed Alahmad, Shaikah Nasser Abdullah Almudhee, Mohammed Saleh Alonazi, Atheer Mithqal Alaamri, Rawabi Hamad Algomaishy, Dabiah Abdullah Thagfan, Bayan Hassan Alraddady, and Mona Ahmed Al Hamad. "Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 3 (2019), 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Jadou, Nehal Saad, Zainab Mohammed Alfaraj, Sara Abdulhameed Alahmad, Shaikah Nasser Abdullah Almudhee, Mohammed Saleh Alonazi, Atheer Mithqal Alaamri, Rawabi Hamad Algomaishy, Dabiah Abdullah Thagfan, Bayan Hassan Alraddady, and Mona Ahmed Al Hamad. "Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 3.5 (2019), 450-456. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Jadou, N. S., Alfaraj, . Z. M., Alahmad, . S. A., Almudhee, . S. N. A., Alonazi, . M. S., Alaamri, . A. M., Algomaishy, . R. H., Thagfan, . D. A., Alraddady, . B. H. & Hamad, . M. A. A. (2019) Prevalence of obesity and its relation to physical activity in the Saudi population. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 3 (5), 450-456. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1547147458




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