Saudi Arabia ranks among the worst affected countries globally due to rising obesity, according to a new report that exposes the enormous health and economic burdens of overweight people across the GCC.
Both Saudi Arabia and neighboring UAE face a growing public health crisis as rates of obesity and weight-related non-communicable diseases continue to rise, according to data from the World Obesity Federation’s World Obesity Atlas 2024 report released this week ahead of World Obesity Day on March 4.
The report reveals that if current trends hold, then over half the population in both the countries will be overweight or obese by 2035, posing risks of chronic diseases, reduced quality of life, and multi-billion-dollar burdens on national economies.
According to the report, more than three-quarters of Saudi women (78 percent) are overweight, placing the Kingdom fifth worldwide after Tonga, Samoa, Kuwait, and Jordan in terms of obese women. Meanwhile, 76 percent of Saudi men are obese, giving the nation the 11th spot on the global obesity index.
Projections estimate adult obesity prevalence will continue to climb by approximately 2.4 percent annually in the Kingdom without significant intervention. This translates to an estimated 1.3 million obese adults by 2030.
Similarly, the UAE harbors an escalating obesity epidemic, with excessive weight diverting nearly $12 billion from its economy each year.
Latest statistics position the UAE as the 11th most affected country worldwide for obesity among women, with more than a third (37.2 percent) of its female population classified as obese. The country is ranked fifth on the global obesity index, with 40 percent of 11 to 16-year-olds and 20 percent of children under the age of 11 classified as obese.
Across the GCC, soaring obesity rates are sounding alarm bells due to the immense burdens on health systems and economies. The report warns proactive measures are urgently needed to alter the region’s trajectory before the problem becomes uncontrollable.
Along with afflicting adults, obesity threatens Saudi Arabia’s youth as well, with more than four out of 10 boys and three out of 10 girls under 20 living with obesity.
Comparatively, the Kingdom ranks fourth-worst globally for childhood obesity among boys and 14th for girls.
Without strategic interventions, it is estimated that more than 60 percent of Saudi children will be obese by 2035. This equals to more than 5.7 million young citizens facing heightened risks of lifelong health complications.
Research consistently demonstrates obesity significantly elevates the chances of developing numerous non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and cancer.
