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Prevalence of obesity in a Saudi obstetric population

Abdel-Hady El-Gilany1, Adel El-Wehady

  • 1Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. ahgilany@gmail.com

Obesity Facts
|January 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Over half of pregnant Saudi women are overweight or obese. High parity and urban living are key predictors of obesity, highlighting the need for pre-pregnancy weight management education.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Obesity is a growing global health concern.
  • Maternal obesity poses risks to both mother and fetus.
  • Understanding obesity prevalence in pregnant populations is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of obesity among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia during early gestation.
  • To identify key determinants associated with obesity in this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 791 pregnant women in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia (2007).
  • Analysis of Body Mass Index (BMI) data collected during the first month of gestation.
  • Logistic regression used to identify significant predictors of obesity.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m²) was 23.6%, 23.9%, and 4.7% respectively, totaling over 52%.
  • Significant independent predictors of obesity included high parity (≥4 children, OR=5.8) and urban residence (OR=4.9).
  • Weight distribution showed a positive skew, indicating a higher proportion of heavier individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.
  • Interventions focusing on pre-pregnancy weight control are essential.
  • Public health strategies should consider factors like parity and urban living in addressing maternal obesity.
Abstract

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