Assessment of Prevalence and Factors Associated with Obesity among Secondary School Students at Makkah in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of overweight/obesity in children in Saudi Arabia is among the highest in the world. The prevalence of dental caries is also high in Saudi children. Studies on the relationship between caries and obesity in Saudi adolescents are lacking. the World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health,” while overweight is defined as “a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or more.”1 Overweight and obesity can negatively affect the physiological and psychological well-being of the affected individual, and both have become a global the prevalence of overweight/obesity in high school adolescents. The Overweight and impaired metabolic health might strongly, and independently of other comorbidities, partner with expanded danger diseases. The study aimed: To assessment of prevalence and factors associated with obesity among   secondary school students at Makkah in Saudi Arabia 2021. Method: An online cross-sectional survey was utilized Secondary school students at in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in Saudi Arabia 2021 during the April to June, 2021, a total of 200 student aged 12–18 years, available students of secondary school children were included in the study. A structured online self-reported questionnaire sheet was used to assessment of prevalence and factors associated with obesity among   secondary school students at Makkah in Saudi Arabia 2021 Result: show the total number of participants was 200 regarding the age most participants were classified into 3 age groups, most of them were (45.0%) in the more than 16 years regarding gender of participated female were (63.0%). Regarding Income level in study the most of participant's Below 5000 SR were (31.0%).  Regarding Educational level in study the most of participant's Intermediate school were (22.0%) regarding Sources of information           about obesity most of participant's educational films were (32.0%) Conclusion: with a high obesity prevalence in boys and in children attending schools. The prevalence was not associated with BMI or WC we report a negative independent association between BMI and subsequent academic performance among female high-school students in Saudi Arabia. The current findings highlight the need for community and school programmes targeting overweight/obesity among high school students.