Obesity: an emerging problem in Saudi Arabia. Analysis of data from the National Nutrition Survey

To document the prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia, we used data from a cross-sectional study on 19,598 individuals in 2837 households. Body mass index, skinfold thickness and mid-arm circumference were measured. Prevalence of obesity ranged from 33.9% in Ha'il to 11.7% in Jizan. More women than men were obese, 23.6% compared to 14.2%. Prevalence of overweight was 30.7% for males and 28.4% for females. Obesity was present in all age groups. It is clear that changes must be made to the lifestyle of the Saudi population in order to reduce the prevalence of obesity.

Risk factors of coronary artery disease in different regions of Saudi Arabia

A national nutrition survey was carried out in Saudi Arabia between 1989 and 1994. One objective was to investigate the prevalence of well established atherogenic risk factors among adults 18 years and older, namely obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, diabetes mellitus and high systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Obesity prevalence was positively correlated with all five coronary artery disease risk factors investigated. Variation among regions in relation to the prevalence of these risk factors was observed. Saudi Arabia’s ecology has resulted in variation in the lifestyle and food consumption patterns of the people of the different regions, which might be a major underlying cause of the variation and high prevalence of coronary artery disease risk factors

Risk factors of coronary artery disease in different regions of Saudi Arabia

A national nutrition survey was carried out in Saudi Arabia between 1989 and 1994. One objective was to investigate the prevalence of well established atherogenic risk factors among adults 18 years and older, namely obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, diabetes mellitus and high systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Obesity prevalence was positively correlated with all five coronary artery disease risk factors investigated. Variation among regions in relation to the prevalence of these risk factors was observed. Saudi Arabia's ecology has resulted in variation in the lifestyle and food consumption patterns of the people of the different regions, which might be a major underlying cause of the variation and high prevalence of coronary artery disease risk factors.

Prevalence of nutritional anaemia among primary school girls in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was investigated among 1,210 school girls in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Anthropometric measurements were recorded. A dietary and socio-economic status questionnaire was administered and heamoglobin (Hb), serum iron and ferritin were estimated. Wasting and stunting is common among the 7- and 14-year-old girls. A total of 8.5% of children showed Hb level below 10 g/dL while 55.4% showed Hb level below 12 g/dL. It was found that 26.3% of the girls have serum iron below 10 mumol/dL while 16.1% of subsample of the girls showed serum ferritin level of less than 12 micrograms/dL. The most affected ones are those in the age group of 7-14 years old. The dietary questionnaire revealed that 16.5% of the girls did not take breakfast at home and depend on snacks offered in the school canteen which consist mostly of biscuits, chocolate bars, potato chips and carbonated cola drinks. No association between education of mother and father and breakfast consumption at home was detected. Tea drinking is common among these girls while fresh fruits and vegetable consumption is infrequent. Iron deficiency anaemia is highly prevalent among these schoolgirls which seriously affects the growth of 7- and 14-year-old girls. An in-depth investigation of the etiological factors of iron deficiency is urgently needed and meanwhile a suitable iron supplementation program is recommended.

The prevalence of hypertension in different geographical regions of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The results of the National Nutrition Survey of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showed that the prevalence of arterial hypertension (BP >/= 160/95 mmHg) among the adult population is 5.3% and 7.3% for systolic and diastolic hypertension, respectively. The objective of this study, which is part of the Survey, was to investigate if the diversified ecological nature of the life of the people of the Kingdom has an effect on the prevalence of arterial hypertension in the adult population in the different geographical regions of the Kingdom.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Survey was population-based, employing cluster sampling methods and household visits by health teams trained by the same investigators to avoid individual variations and ensure data validity. 2,556 families with 17,892 individuals of all ages were randomly selected from 12 areas according to the population distribution all over the Kingdom. The total number examined for BP with complete data amounted to 13,700 individuals, of whom 6,260 were adults (over 18 years of age). The WHO definition of arterial hypertension was used. Also used was the definition of 140/90 mmHg.

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure hypertension (SBPH) showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) among the regions. The highest prevalence was found in Farasan (8.9%) and the lowest was reported from Asir (2.2%). There was a higher prevalence among females compared to males in the 40-75 year age group in all regions, except in the highlands of Al Taif and Asir. However, the difference was not statistically significant, except in Makkah (25.9%, P<0.001) and Al Sharikia (22%, P<0.03). Diastolic blood pressure hypert ension (DBPH) prevalence increased with age in all regions, except in males of Farasan, Makkah, and in females of Asir. The difference in the prevalence between regions was statistically significant (P<0.001). The highest DBPH prevalence (sexes combined) was reported from Al Qassim (10.6%) and the lowest from Makkah (4.2%). Using the definition of hypertension as 140/90 mmHg, the highest SBPH prevalence was reported from Makkah (sexes combined) (27.9%), while the lowest was from Makkah and Asir (22% each). The prevalence of SBPH and DBPH was insignificantly higher among females than males in eight and seven of the 12 regions, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of SBPH and DBPH in the different regions of the Kingdom (P<0.001). The prevalence pattern tends to be fairly similar to that found in the affluent societies in the Western countries.

Arterial hypertension in Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional population-based survey employing a cluster sampling method and household visits by trained health teams investigated hypertension prevalence in the Kingdom among 13,700 individuals of both sexes in all age groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of hypertension of = 160/95 mmHg was used; it was found that 9.1% and 8.7% of the total sample investigated were systolic and diastolic hypertensives, respectively. However, 12.4% and 7.9% of children younger than 18 years were systolic and diastolic hypertensive. Among adults aged 18 years and above, 5.3% were systolic and 7.3% were diastolic hypertensives; 87.5% of systolic and 79.4% of diastolic hypertensives were aged 40 years and over. Females had statistically significant elevated systolic hypertension compared with males (P < 0.01). However, if blood pressure = 140/90 mmHg is used as a criterion for hypertension definition, the prevalence among the latter age groups would be 20.4% for systolic and 25.9% for diastolic hypertension. The prevalence of Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH), Isolated Diastolic Hypertension (IDH) and Systolic Diastolic Hypertension (SDH) among adults above 18 years was 1.8%, 3.8% and 3.5% respectively. ISH was higher among females compared with males (2% vs 1.4%), while IDH was higher among males than females (4.4% vs 3.4%). There is a need for tracking childhood hypertension, which could provide long-term analysis for risk of adult hypertension.

A pilot study of diet and gallstone formation in young Saudi women

The diet of 100 younger than 40 years Saudi females; 50 cases with gallstones and 50 control mean age and SD 30.2 (6.1) and 29.7 (6.4) years respectively, was studied by taking a qualitative dietary history. There was no significant difference between the dietary intake of the 2 groups with regard to cholesterol-rich food and animal fat-rich foods, high fibre foods and the consumption of fast food. However, dates, 'kabsah', 'modabi' and cheese were consumed significantly more by cases (P-value < .001, < .046, < .001 and < .004 respectively) and vegetable oil was used more by controls for cooking purposes (P-value < .05).

Synovial amyloid in chronic haemodialysis contains beta 2 microglobulin

A case of amyloid arthropathy occurring in a patient receiving long term chronic haemodialysis treatment is reported. He was found to have raised serum beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2M). and beta 2M was detected in the synovial amyloid deposits.

A goitrogenic agent from millet (Pennisetum typhoides) in Darfur Province, Western Sudan

Serum samples from girls from an elementary school in Western Sudan with grades O, I and II/III goitre were examined for their thiocyanate, cysteine, thyroxine, TSH and T3 concentrations. The concentrations of thiocyanate in all girls was higher than that reported in the literature for Nigerians, but the concentrations of thiocyanate were nevertheless significantly elevated, and those of thyroxine significantly lowered in girls with grades I and II/III goitre as compared with grade O. There were no significant differences between any of the groups in the concentrations of cysteine or TSH and T3. The predominant staple food eaten in this area of Sudan is millet and evidence is produced that this contains a goitrogenic thionamide which could be a factor in causing the endemic goitre.

Urinary free amino acids pattern in protein-energy malnourished Sudanese children

The urinary free amino acid pattern in a morning urine sample of Sudanese children suffering from Kwashiorkor and marasmus were determined before and during the course of treatment up to the 2nd week. The urinary amino acid/total urinary N (3.62) was found to be almost constant for Kwashiorkor patients, while the mean for marasmic patients was found to be 27. The concentration of leucine, valine, phenylalanine, methylhistidine, lysine, hydroxylysine and beta-amino-isobutyric acid was elevated in marasmic children, while the concentration of most of these amino acids was at a lower level in Kwashiorkor patients. The significance of these differences was discussed in relation to the biochemical detection of these deficiencies in field nutrition surveys.

Factors other than iodine deficiency contributing to the endemicity of goitre in Darfur Province (Sudan)

One thousand six hundred and four children in nine schools in five villages of Darfur Province were examined for goitre. The incidence in Kas, Tawaila and Nyala was 75, 55, 13 (girls) 46, 35 and 10 (boys) per cent). Dietary survey showed the proportion of energy derived from millet to be 73.6, 66.7 and 37.1 per cent. Factors contributing to the high incidence of goitre in the province are discussed, and include low iodine intake, high Na, K and Fe in water, low vitamin A in the diet and poor nutritional status. A goitrogenic factor present in millet may account for the differences between villages.