Saudi Arabia’s obesity problem: Causes, consequences, and public health remedies

Obesity has become a serious epidemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). This has escalated to a potentially fatal public health emergency, with the adults of the KSA being the most affected population. The concern of doubling childhood and adolescent obesity is alarming as it points to a substantial future load of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Continued inflammation caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines led to insulin resistance and the accumulation of fat to adipose tissue. An obesogenic environment common to all and a complex interaction of genetic predispositions are responsible for fueling obesity. This is due to rapid shift to highly processed eating habits, severe sedentarism made worse by urbanization that vehicle dependency, and sociocultural elements that restrict physical activity, especially for women, are the major causes that have emerged. The effect of urbanization can be seen in sharp differences between the regions, for example, metropolitan areas like Riyadh, that carry the heaviest load, are impacted the most. Saudi Arabia is moving forward. The country has reacted by implementing a comprehensive strategy that includes population-level preventive interventions via a fiscal policy such as a sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax, front-of-package labeling, and environmental changes. There is also an upgraded clinical management model and a healthcare system that includes specialized bariatric surgery, specialized hospitals, and primary care screening. We may need a stronger, multisector policy to intervene at the root causes of obesity if we are to reverse the trend. This can be accomplished through the effective implementation of policy changes, the improvement of the environment, and the provision of culturally appropriate interventions.