PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A META-ANALYSIS

Background: Although there is a plethora of studies concerning obesity in Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of a systematic analytical approach of obesity prevalence among children and adolescents. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of obesity among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia. The trend of obesity prevalence over the past two decades was additionally investigated. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted involving cross-sectional studies published between 2000 and 2020 in PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. Pooled logit-transformed prevalence rates were computed for all studies and for subgroups based on the used diagnostic criteria, period of data collection, and region. Personal and parental sociodemographic risk factors were collected and expressed as odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Trend analysis was performed using a chi-squared test for linear trend, and a meta-regression was applied to assess the sources of heterogeneity. Results: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria (43,187 subjects, 54.3% males). The pooled prevalence of obesity was 14.13%, and it increased significantly in 2016-2020 compared to 2000-2005 (OR=2.58, p<0.0001). Obesity was significantly associated with male sex (OR=1.36, p=0.007), performing a physical activity <3 times/week (OR=1.59, p=0.025), consuming soft drinks ≥2 times/day (OR=1.73, p=0.014), having a working mother (OR=1.20, p=0.036), and living in an urban region (OR=1.44, p=0.033). Between-study heterogeneity was significant, and it was explained by regional variation (F(2,5)=12.519, p=0.028). Conclusion: The high obesity prevalence among young populations in Saudi Arabia underscores the importance of implementing intensified school- and community-based preventive programs, focusing on the established risk factors.