School-Based Body Mass Index Survey: A national study of Obesity Prevalence among School Students in Saudi Arabia, 2018: Obesity Prevalence among School Students in Saudi Arabia, 2018.

Mona  Ibrahim; Sara  Albwardi; wael Althagafi; Abrar Alzaher; Mahmoud Nahhas; Khaled Alabdulkareem

Authors

Mona H. Ibrahim Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. Public health consultant, General Administration of School Health Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5651-6757
Sara A. Albwardi Dental public health registrar, General Administration of School Health, Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.
Wael A. Althagafi Family medicine senior registrar, General Directorate of Health Programs and Chronic Diseases Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3663-1520
Abrar A. Alzaher Community medicine senior registrar, General Administration of School Health, Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3156-6675
Mahmoud A. Nahhas Public health consultant, Former Head of General Administration of School Health Department, Ministry of Health, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.
Khaled I. Alabdulkareem Assistant Deputy Minister for Primary Health Care, Assisting Deputyship for Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health; Assistant Professor of family medicine. College of Medicine, Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

Keywords:

School Students; Obesity; Saudi Arabia; BMI; Adolescents; Overweight.

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a major public health problem and associated with higher incidence of non-communicable diseases and significant impact on healthcare expenditure. To date, there is no national baseline information on overweight and obesity of school students in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated risk factors among school students in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A school-based, national survey was carried out on 50% of students in third grade of both elementary and intermediate schools in all Saudi Arabia regions with a sample of 174,340 and 190,825 respectively. Weight and height of school students and body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the sex specific-BMI growth charts for Saudi children and adolescents.

Results: Overall prevalence of overweight and obesity was 18.6 %, (overweight was 11.0% and obesity was 7.6%). While underweight was 28.4%. The reported risk factors for obesity and overweight were, age group 10-19 years old (OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 2.05-2.12, P < 0.001), male gender (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P < 0.001), intermediate grade (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 2.12–2.2, P < 0.001) and private schools (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06-1.22, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Overweight and obesity among school students in Saudi Arabia are still high and continues to be a major public health concern. Policies at the national, community and individual levels are needed to be effectively implemented to control this problem. Notably, underweight also showed a high prevalence and this problem is needed to be highlighted as well.

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