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Obesity/overweight is very common health problems globally. In KSA, about three-quarter of population have either overweight or obesity. Obesity is known to be associated and complicated with other common health problems.. There is adequate evidence that obesity can be prevented and managed. Despite these facts, there were no standards for obesity care in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)A. The objective of this paper is to present some standards for obesity care at different levels of health care in KSA.

Background and Objectives: In Saudi Arabia, overweight and obesity affect more than 75% of the adult population. National studies concluded that the two most contributing factors leading to obesity epidemic in Saudi Arabia are intake of imbalanced diet and lack of regular physical activities. The purpose of this paper is to study the trial of weight loss and the factors that determine it among adult overweight/obese in Abha city, southwest Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Aseer Mall, Abha city during August 2014. To achieve the objectives of this study, the investigators created a questionnaire in Arabic language with the following parts: demographic data, history of any medical condition, awareness about current weight, awareness about harm of obesity, past trials to lose weight, types of interventions to lose weight, and results of trial. The questionnaire was validated by two family physicians and then administered by well-trained nurses to all adult people visiting to “Obesity Exhibition” which was executed by Saudi Arabian society of metabolic and bariatric surgery (SASMBS) in August 2014 for 1 week. Data of the questionnaire were coded, entered and analyzed by SPSS. Results: A total of 422 clients visited the obesity exhibition site during 1 week of the study. Out of them, 263 individuals (62%) were either overweight or obese. The mean age was 36 years; majority of participants were females (71%) and married (67%); housewives and officers constituted 27 and 29% of participants, respectively. About 85% of them knew their current weight, and 92% reported that obesity may give harmful effect on their health. More than 80% of the participants mentioned that they tried to lose their weight in the past, but about quarter (26%) of them reported its success. About one third (37%) of them used both diet and exercise; 3% of them used drugs, while 26% used traditional therapies as an intervention to lose weight. Most of participants (74%) fail to lose weight as they were not adequately compliant with diet and exercise. Average weight loss was 7.5 kg (standard deviation = 6 kg) and a minimum of 1 kg. It was found that females (27%) use herbal products to reduce their weight when compared to males (6%) (P = 0.000). Practicing a physical activity to lose weight was higher among males (31%) compared to females (19%), but no association was found with other demographic variables. Conclusion: Majority of obese patients failed to achieve the target weight loss. The underlying reasons for failure were poor compliance to diet and physical activities.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and some malignancies. It became as international epidemic, particularly in Western and Gulf countries. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight among resident physicians in the postgraduate training programs of Saudi Board in Aseer Region, KSA. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during October to November 2013. Data were collected through a questionnaire developed by the researchers, which included the demographic data, weight and height measurements, and dietary habit using food frequency questionnaire. The first researcher met all the respondents and measured their weight and height, then every subject was asked to fill the self-administered questionnaire. Results: Out of 255 invited residents, 82.7% participated in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 27.9 ± 2.6 years. Almost two-thirds of them (66.8%) were males. Majority of them (96.2%) were Saudi. Overweight and obesity were reported among 36% and 23.2% of the residents, respectively. Obesity was significantly higher among male than female resident physicians (31.9% vs. 7.1%), P < 0.001. Taking of potatoes chips, sweets, pizza, never drinking skimmed milk, and never drinking semi-skimmed milk were significantly associated with obesity among resident physicians. Conclusion: Frequency of overweight and obesity was high among Saudi Board residents in Aseer Region and significantly higher in male than female physicians. Taking of potatoes chips, sweets, pizza, never drinking skimmed milk, and never drinking semi-skimmed milk were significantly associated with obesity among resident physicians.

Overweight and obesity affect more than 75% of the total population in Saudi Arabia. Almost all age groups are affected in general and adults particularly. In order to introduce high quality health-care for these individual, it is mandatory to establish clinical guideline that will help health-care providers to manage this common problem at all levels. This guideline was adapted from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and other international guidelines for prevention and management overweight and obesity. The guideline will cover preventive and curative aspects of overweight and obesity and could be implemented at primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Obesity is one of the most common chronic diseases in Saudi community that affecting all ages and both genders. Objectives: The aim of this study is to estimate the weight status of pregnant women and its associated factors in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who were follow at antenatal clinics in primary health care center (PHCC) in Aseer Region during the period (3 rd to 7 th of November 2013). Data collection sheet was designed by the investigators to achieve the aim of this study. Working nurses in the antenatal care clinics were given written instructions regarding the objective, the importance of this study and how to measure the weight and how to fill data collection sheet properly. Data were coded and then entered into a personal computer provided with SPSS. Results: A total of 800 pregnant women attended PHCCs during the period of study. The mean age was 29.4 ΁ 6.3 years and about 50% of them were between 26 and 35 years old. Saudi represents the vast majority, and 85% of them were housewives. Mean of gravidity and parity were 4 and 2.5 respectively. Mean gestational age was 20 weeks, and rate of obesity and overweight were 32% and 38%, respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that most of the pregnant women attending PHCC in Aseer Region were overweight or obese. Obesity rate increased significantly with advanced age and parity.

Background: Obesity is one of the most common chronic diseases that could be managed at PHCC settings. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore knowledge, attitudes, and practice of PHCC physicians in Aseer region, regarding obesity. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians working at PHCC in 2012. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the investigators designed a questionnaire which composed of three parts namely; sociodemographic data, knowledge related questions, attitude related questions, practice related questions in addition to some questions related to infrastructures, and barriers facing management of obesity at PHCC. Questionnaire was distributed to all PHCC doctors using post. Data entry and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21. Results: The total number of doctors responded was 294 out of 339, giving a response rate of (87%). Mean age of participants was 38 year, male represented 63%, 61% had no post MBBS qualification and one third are working in big cities. More than 50% of centers were having registers, guidelines and screening program for obesity. The most common encountered barriers to care for obesity at PHCC were lack of (time, health education materials, guideline and referral system). Most of physicians showed good attitude regarding management of obesity compared to knowledge which was inadequate as reflected by total knowledge score which was less than 7 points among 64% of participants. More than half of participants reported that they gave advices about the roles of diet, exercise in management of obesity to their clients. Conclusion: This study revealed that PHCCs in Aseer region need adequate infrastructures to care for obese patients while PHCC doctors are in need of training to improve their knowledge and develop their skills in order to introduce good care for their obese patients.

Obesity is one of the common health problems in Saudi Arabia. It affects almost one third of adult population and one tenth of children and adolescents. In order to prevent and control obesity among Saudi population, it is mandatory to have national program with definite objectives and strategies. The aim of this paper is to identify priorities for integrated strategies to prevent and control obesity and to define roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders including individuals, families, community, organizations and agencies in KSA as the first step in a process to develop integrate national program to prevent obesity.

Background: Obesity is one of the most chronic problems which is associated with many serious health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Objective: To estimate the magnitude of overweight and obesity among adults attending Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Aseer region, KSA. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted during December 2012 at all PHCCs in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. A data collecting sheet was designed by the investigators to achieve the objective of the study. It contained age, sex, weight, height, history of hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, and watching TV. Doctors and nurses at PHCCs were instructed regarding using of data collecting sheet. Result: A total of 6 917 adult individuals were assessed during the week of this study. Mean age of participants was 48 years; both genders were equal. Prevalence rates of smoking, diabetes, and hypertension were 6%, 17%, And 12%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 32% and 39%, respectively. Obesity among males and females were 28% and 44%, respectively. Most of patients with hypertension and diabetes were overweight or obese. Conclusion: This survey revealed that prevalence of overweight and obesity are high among adults attending PHCC in Aseer region. Urgent action including health education, health promotion, and treating the affected individuals are mandatory to reduce the magnitude and consequences of this health problem.

Overweight and obesity affect more than 75% of the total population in Saudi Arabia. Almost all age groups are affected in general and adults particularly. In order to introduce high quality health-care for these individual, it is mandatory to establish clinical guideline that will help health-care providers to manage this common problems at all levels. This guideline was adapted from Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network for management of obesity after taking permission in this regard. The guideline will cover preventive and curative aspects of overweight and obesity and could be implemented at primary, secondary, and tertiary care levels in Saudi Arabia.

Context: Saudi Arabians suffer from overweight and obesity, which contribute significantly to the poor control of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN). Aim: To assess the effect of overweight and obesity on diabetes and HTN control in Aseer region, KSA. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted by the end of the year 2010. All medical records were assessed by trained doctors and nurses working in the Chronic Disease Clinic at each primary health care center (PHCC) using a check list derived from the quality assurance manual of PHC. The Chronic Disease Services were based on the recommendation of the relevant guidelines. Data entry and analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. P-values less than 0.05 were selected for statistical significance. Results: The prevalence of obesity among diabetics and hypertensive patients was 46% and 54%, respectively. The diabetic patients with good control comprised 21% of the study population, while less than one-third of the patients had fair diabetic control and about half of the diabetics had poor diabetic control. About more than one-third of patients had good control of HTN and less than one-third suffered from overweight and more than half had obesity. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that most of DM and HTN patients in PHCCs, Aseer Region, KSA, suffered from overweight and obesity, which contribute significantly to the poor control of DM and HTN.