Obesity In Saudi Arabia Essay

3\Obesity: Obesity is a difficult medical problem; not only in adults but also in children and teenagers. The percentage of obesity is increasing in Saudi Arabia, affecting “30.7% of Saudi males and 28.4% of Saudi females, with the highest incidence found in Hail (33.9%), followed by Al Sharqiya (27.7%), Riyadh (21.7%), Makkah (19.3%), Jeddah (16.4%) and the lowest in Jisan (11.7%)”. (Al-Nozha et.al , 2007)

These high percentages of obesity in Saudi Arabia are due to inactive life style, lack of physical exercise and shift to fast food and carbonated drinks. “Obese children and teenagers are at risk for psychological and social adjustment problems, including lower perceived competencies than normative samples on social, athletic and appearance domains, as well as lower overall self-worth” (Shisslak, 2003). It should also be pointed out that teenagers with severe obesity are affected by major mental problems such as social marginalization and reduced health-related quality of life;

Some are at an unhealthy weight and need to pay closer attention to their eating and exercise habits. Some play sports and want to be in top physical condition. Others may think they would look and feel better if they lost a few pounds. Some people may diet because they think they are supposed to look a certain way. Actors, actresses and models are skinny, and most fashions are shown off by very thin models. But this look is unrealistic for most people not to mention physically damaging to the models and stars who struggle to maintain it.

By the time they turn 12 or 13, most teen girls start to go through body changes that are natural and necessary: Their hips broaden, their breasts develop, and suddenly the way they look may not match girls on TV or in magazine advertisements. Guys develop at different rates, too. Those men with washboard abs you see in clothing advertisements are usually in their