Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
04:43
COVID-19 Seroprevalence Test for IgG Antibody Levels Among Healthy Donors Across Different Pandemic Phases in Jeddah
Published on: June 24, 2025
Nutritional disorders in Saudi Arabia: a review
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.
Family Practice
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Nutritional disorders in Saudi Arabia, including anemia and malnutrition in children, stem from ignorance. However, overnutrition is rising in urban areas, alongside overall nutritional status improvements due to socioeconomic development.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutrition Science
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Literature review on nutritional disorders in Saudi Arabia highlights persistent issues like anemia and stunting in preschool children.
- Identified causes include prevalent ignorance and misconceptions regarding nutrition, rather than solely economic factors.
- Emerging concern of overnutrition observed in urban middle and upper-class populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize existing literature on nutritional disorders in Saudi Arabia.
- To identify key nutritional challenges, their causes, and recent trends.
- To advocate for the establishment of national health and nutrition standards.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies on nutritional disorders in Saudi Arabia.
- Analysis of reported prevalence, causes, and trends in nutritional status.
- Synthesis of findings to inform public health strategies.
Main Results:
- Anemia, stunting, and wasting are significant issues among Saudi preschool children.
- Nutritional status has generally improved over the past two decades, linked to socioeconomic development.
- Overnutrition is an emerging challenge in affluent urban populations.
Conclusions:
- Addressing nutritional disorders requires tackling ignorance and misconceptions.
- Socioeconomic development has positively impacted Saudi Arabia's overall nutritional status.
- Development of Saudi-specific health and nutrition standards is crucial for effective program planning and evaluation.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...
01:21Overview of Protein Metabolism
Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:27Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires collaborative and comprehensive management. CKD progresses through stages and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) if untreated. Interprofessional collaboration and patient education are crucial, enabling patients to manage their health and improve their quality of life.Diagnostic approach for chronic kidney diseaseThe diagnosis of CKD primarily focuses on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which assesses kidney function by measuring how well...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...