Bodyweight and obesity perceptions among adults in Bahrain

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Perceptions
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Obesity affects one-third of Bahrain's population, yet public perceptions remain under-researched.
• Limited data exists on how the general population in Bahrain perceives obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess adult perceptions of obesity within Bahrain's public healthcare system.
• To understand the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and obesity perception.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 356 adult participants from 8 public healthcare centers across Bahrain.
• Utilized combined questionnaires from previous obesity surveys to collect anthropometric data (weight, height).
• Statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 25.

Main Results:

• Obesity prevalence was 41.4% among participants.
• Normal/overweight individuals were more likely to see obesity as a lifestyle choice, while underweight individuals viewed it as a disease.
• Less than half of obese participants recognized their weight status, with many perceiving themselves as normal or slightly overweight.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of the study population (46.4%) did not classify obesity as a disease, despite acknowledging it as a health risk.
• There is a critical need for national health education programs in Bahrain focused on obesity prevention and management for all age groups.