Abstract
This study was conducted to determine differences in overweight and obesity prevalence and the associated sociodemographic variables among middle-aged men from twelve Middle Eastern and Asian countries living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This is a cross-sectional study. The study sample was chosen randomly using a stratified clustered sampling technique. The weight and height of 1800 middle-aged men (36 to 59 years) from twelve Middle Eastern and Asian countries living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were measured using standardized methods. Face-to-face interviews were used to gather sociodemographic information from participants.
Overweight and obesity were reported among 51.9% and 14.7% of participants, respectively. Nationality was a predictor of overweight and obesity. Subjects from Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia had the lowest (41.0%) and highest (85.1%) rates of overweight and obesity, respectively. Increasing age, staying in Saudi Arabia for a longer period, being single, and earning a high monthly income were associated with a significantly higher risk of overweight and obesity among the participants.
The findings revealed significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among participants from different countries living in Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic variables associated with overweight and obesity among participants were identified.