{"id":2578,"date":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdbc2.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/obesity-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-how-lifestyle-changes-are-impacting-health\/"},"modified":"2024-03-25T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T05:00:00","slug":"obesity-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-how-lifestyle-changes-are-impacting-health","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/obesity-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-how-lifestyle-changes-are-impacting-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Obesity Crisis in Saudi Arabia: How Lifestyle Changes Are Impacting Health\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In recent decades, the global obesity prevalence rate has grown dramatically. The health effects of obesity are significant and burden individuals and government health agencies alike. Some of the most common\u00a0obesity-related\u00a0health conditions include heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.\u00a0A 2016 report\u00a0from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group demonstrated that there is strong evidence that a higher body fat percentage increases the risk of certain cancers, including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/course\/role-of-the-pharmacist-in-the-management-of-breast-cancer\/?courseid=3607\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">breast<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, colorectal, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/course\/enhancing-oncology-care-for-prostate-cancer-in-saudi-arabia\/?courseid=3651\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prostate cancer.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the correlation between obesity and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/rising-cancer-rates-in-saudi-arabia-how-clinicians-can-increase-awareness\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cancer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not entirely understood, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/causes-prevention\/risk\/obesity\/obesity-fact-sheet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">xperts believe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0high body fat can lead to the excess production of hormones such as estrogen, adipokines, and insulin, as well as an increase in cellular growth factor hormones. These imbalances may create an environment in which tumour growth can proliferate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity can also create barriers to cancer detection, as individuals may avoid or delay routine medical care, leading to a later diagnosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being overweight\/obese can also lead to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/causes-prevention\/risk\/obesity\/obesity-fact-sheet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">worse outcomes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0after a cancer diagnosis; people with excess body weight are more likely to face cancer recurrence and cancer progression, as well as higher risks of developing certain second primary cancers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Understanding the Obesity Crisis in Saudi Arabia<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the World Health Organization,\u00a0obesity is quite prevalent\u00a0in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Research shows that 68.2 percent of Saudi adults are overweight, and 33.7 percent meet the clinical definition of obese. This is\u00a0nearly double the number\u00a0of Saudi citizens who were obese 50 years ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The obesity crisis in Saudi Arabia can be attributed to a number of factors. The development of the economy in the Persian Gulf region has brought about changes in lifestyle, such as a decline in physical activity levels and an increase in the consumption of processed foods and beverages. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People reported consuming fewer fruits and vegetables and eating more calorie-rich fast food. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, overeating at social gatherings is a contributing factor to the surge in obesity rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The health effects of the increasing obesity prevalence in KSA are dire. Overweight and obesity account for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/countdown-to-2030-addressing-the-stubborn-obesity-challenge-in-saudi-arabia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27 percent<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of all deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and 15 percent of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCD-related disability. Healthcare costs\u00a0for overweight and obesity are around $3.8 billion per year, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">accounting for about 4 percent of Saudi Arabia&#8217;s total health expenditures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Saudi government has implemented measures to address the obesity-related disease burden as part of its\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/18\/23\/12361\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vision 2030\u00a0<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">plan. The aim is to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/countdown-to-2030-addressing-the-stubborn-obesity-challenge-in-saudi-arabia\/#:~:text=Under%20its%20%E2%80%9CVision%202030%2C%E2%80%9D%20Saudi%20Arabia%20is%20aiming,such%20as%20unhealthy%20diets%20and%20inadequate%20physical%20activity.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by 3 percent and diabetes prevalence by 10 percent by 2030. To this end, the government is mandating changes in food production and labelling.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Role of Healthcare Providers in Obesity Management<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare providers play a crucial role in obesity management. Clinicians can educate individuals about the health risks associated with obesity and share obesity prevention strategies with them. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During routine exams, they can engage patients in discussions about dietary and lifestyle choices, providing an assessment of associated health risks and offering actionable solutions for risk mitigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providers can offer advice about increasing physical activity and changing eating habits to reduce body weight. Pediatricians should also prioritize diet and lifestyle counselling, as Saudi youth demonstrate high obesity rates. Prioritizing obesity management can reduce cancer risk and other associated health issues later in life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Primary care providers can take a team approach to managing obesity by referring patients to additional specialists such as dietitians, physical therapists, psychologists, or weight loss specialists for appropriate advice and support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, providers should include guidance on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/chi.gov.sa\/AboutCCHI\/CCHIprograms\/Documents\/Saudi%20Clinical%20Preventive.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cancer prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> measures, such as cancer screening, in routine health checks. Mammography and cervical and colorectal cancer screenings can assist in the early detection of cancer, leading to better treatment outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the relationship between obesity and cancer can help healthcare professionals effectively guide their patients in managing cancer risks. To gain a deeper understanding, explore accredited\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/courses-catalog\/?eb_courses_page_key=bfd0722ae1&amp;eb_categories_filter=Oncology\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oncology courses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0at MDBriefCase. Not a member?\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/user-account\/?action=eb_register\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join for free today!<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In recent decades, the global obesity prevalence rate has grown dramatically. The health effects of obesity are significant and burden individuals and government health agencies alike. Some of the most common\u00a0obesity-related\u00a0health conditions include heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.\u00a0A 2016 report\u00a0from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Working Group demonstrated that there [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2579,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-2578","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Obesity Crisis in Saudi Arabia: How Lifestyle Changes Are Impacting Health\u00a0 - MDBriefCase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/obesity-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-how-lifestyle-changes-are-impacting-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_CA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Obesity Crisis in Saudi Arabia: How Lifestyle Changes Are Impacting Health\u00a0 - MDBriefCase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In recent decades, the global obesity prevalence rate has grown dramatically. 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