Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (May 2024)
Prevalence and Determinants of Obesity and Overweight Among Children and Adolescents in the Middle East and North African Countries: An Updated Systematic Review
Abstract
Bashayer Farhan Alruwaili,1 Duaa Fahad Bayyumi,1 Ohud Saud Alruwaili,1 Razan Saud Alsadun,1 Amal Sulaiman Alanazi,2 Amal Hadi,2 Nada Kareem S Alruwaili,3 Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu,1 Norah Farhan Aldaghmani,4 Aljawharah Abdulrahman Alrayes4 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Family Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Health, Aljouf Health Cluster, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; 4College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Bashayer Farhan Alruwaili, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia, Tel +00966 55 191 3665, Email [email protected]: In recent years, the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have experienced alarming increases in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity. This updated systematic review sought to measure the prevalence and determinants of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents in MENA countries. A literature search for relevant observational studies published in English was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Saudi Digital Library. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Twenty-one published articles during the past five years were included in the systematic review. Varied approaches were used to diagnose childhood overweight and obesity, including the International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF), Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Saudi Growth Pattern Curves. We found that the combined prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in the Middle East is up to 49.4%, depending on the methods applied in their studies. Risk factors identified were age, male gender, lack of sufficient physical activity, consumption of fried food, perceived stress level, number of family members, family size, mother’s occupation, education level, family history of obesity, high energy consumption from carbohydrates, ≥ 2 hours spent on watching television on weekend days with overweight, and always eating breakfast while watching television with obesity. The results of this review indicate that the issue of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in the Middle East is substantial and concerning. Most of the risk factors identified are modifiable and, if given appropriate attention, could significantly reduce the burden of associated chronic complications.Keywords: childhood obesity, screen time, adolescents, Saudi growth pattern, WHO, CDC
