Chubby and weight problems—A rising problem in Saudi Arabia
Chubby and weight problems, referring to physique mass index (BMI) over 25 and 30, respectively, are a rising international epidemic and one of many key public well being challenges at the moment. Many of the world’s inhabitants lives in international locations the place chubby and weight problems have a much bigger influence on mortality and incapacity than underweight. The Sustainable Improvement Purpose 2 (SDG2) proposes the elimination of all types of malnutrition in kids below 5, together with losing and chubby. The share of kids who’re chubby is likely one of the few SDG indicators that has turn into worse since 2015, particularly in international locations similar to Saudi Arabia.
The rise of chubby and weight problems has been significantly alarming in Saudi Arabia—The speed has practically doubled over the previous 50 years. Like in lots of different Gulf Cooperation Council international locations, fast financial improvement and urbanization have introduced way of life adjustments together with decreased bodily exercise and elevated consumption of extremely processed meals and drinks. Because of this, greater than 50 p.c of the inhabitants in Saudi Arabia at the moment is chubby (Determine 1), and greater than 20 p.c have weight problems.
Youngsters and adolescents are hit significantly arduous
Whereas chubby and weight problems charges in Saudi Arabia are excessive throughout all age teams, they’re rising quickly amongst kids and adolescents. The crude prevalence of chubby/weight problems amongst these 5 to 19 years of age is likely one of the highest on this planet at 36 p.c, twice the worldwide common in 2016. Whereas chubby and weight problems are traditionally increased amongst grownup girls than males in Saudi Arabia, there’s a reversal in development amongst kids and adolescents, with boys now having increased chubby and weight problems charges than women (Determine 2).
Determine 1. Proportion of the inhabitants who’s chubby within the Gulf Area international locations
Supply: WHO, 2019
Determine 2. Crude prevalence of chubby and weight problems amongst Saudi Arabian kids and adolescents, ages 10 to 19 years, by intercourse
Supply: WHO, 2020
The excessive charge of chubby and weight problems in kids and adolescents is very regarding given {that a} third of Saudi Arabia’s inhabitants is below the age of 15, two-thirds are below 35, and the prevalence of chubby and weight problems and the ensuing issues will probably improve additional because the inhabitants ages, if no motion is taken. Affected kids and adolescents usually carry the additional weight into maturity, resulting in lifelong well being issues. They’re at increased threat of early onset well being issues, together with sort 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep issues. It may also influence their psychological well-being by producing low vanity, despair, and social isolation.
The heavy burden of chubby and weight problems—an unaffordable price
Chubby and weight problems are among the many most important determinants for non-communicable ailments (NCDs) similar to coronary heart illness, stroke, sort 2 diabetes, and sure kinds of most cancers and have lately been related to worse outcomes in COVID-19. In Saudi Arabia, chubby and weight problems account for 27 p.c of all NCD mortality and 15 p.c of NCD-related incapacity within the kingdom.
Chubby and weight problems are costing the federal government round $3.8 billion in direct prices, equal to 4.3 p.c of well being bills within the kingdom in 2019. The remedy of sort 2 diabetes is an enormous driver of direct chubby/obesity-attributable prices. Round 7 million Saudis (24 p.c) are diabetic, whereas virtually 3 million have prediabetes. That is excessive in comparison with a world diabetes prevalence estimated to be round 9 p.c in 2019.
Chubby and weight problems even have substantial oblique financial implications and prices. They negatively influence human capital—the data, expertise, and well being that folks accumulate to comprehend their full potential as productive members of society and contribute towards financial progress. A current examine estimated chubby and obesity-attributable absenteeism (absent from work) and presenteeism (working whereas sick) to price Saudi Arabia a complete of $15.5 billion, equal to 0.9 p.c of gross home product (GDP) in 2019.
How Saudi Arabia is preventing again
Below its “Imaginative and prescient 2030,” Saudi Arabia is aiming for a 3 p.c discount in weight problems and a ten p.c lower in diabetes prevalence by 2030. Accordingly, Saudi Arabia goals to be on the forefront of implementing interventions to deal with the principle behavioral threat elements of weight problems, similar to unhealthy diets and insufficient bodily exercise. It has already commenced by being one of many few international locations that mandated menu calorie labeling in all meals service institutions, in an effort to assist customers make more healthy selections. It additionally applied a 50 p.c tax on sugar-sweetened drinks and a 100% tax on power drinks in 2017 which already led to a 35 p.c decline in carbonated drinks gross sales. Moreover, it launched a number of voluntary and necessary measures to encourage firms to reformulate their meals and beverage merchandise to have much less salt, fats, and sugar.
Interventions to focus on kids are actually additionally being prioritized. Saudi Arabia allowed bodily training in faculties for ladies for the primary time in 2018 and launched a promising weight problems prevention program for college kids known as “Rashaqa” which goals to enhance dietary conduct, improve bodily exercise, and supply preventive and therapeutic companies to chubby and overweight college students or choose major and secondary faculties throughout Saudi Arabia.
Planning for extra is within the works. Extra measures presently into consideration embrace adopting a nutrient profiling mannequin as a normal guideline for nutrition-related insurance policies together with front-of-package labeling similar to vitamin warnings or site visitors gentle labels. The purpose is to be on the forefront globally of tackling weight problems by 2030 and mitigate the excessive well being and financial burden earlier than it will get worse.
Conclusion
Addressing the chubby and weight problems epidemic is crucial to attaining the well being and financial targets outlined in Saudi Arabia’s “Imaginative and prescient 2030”. It’s also crucial to attaining a number of of the SGDs targets, particularly targets 2.2 on decreasing the prevalence of malnutrition amongst kids below 5 years of age and three.4 on decreasing untimely mortality from non-communicable ailments. Effectiveness and success would require continued concentrating on of interventions throughout the life course of the inhabitants continued prioritization of prevention over remedy; a dedication and mechanism to work throughout sectors, and a selected emphasis on implementation, monitoring, and analysis. If profitable, Saudi Arabia has the potential to considerably enhance general well being, scale back the NCD burden and protect Saudi Arabia’s subsequent era’s human capital.