OBESITY AMONG YOUNG SAUDI FEMALE-ADULTS - A PREVALENCE STUDY ON MEDICAL AND NURSING-STUDENTS

The prevalence of obesity was examined among Saudi female medical and nursing students. The analysis was made on 222 students whose ages ran ged from 18-25 years. Standard procedures for measuring weight, height and triceps skinfold measurements were conducted. The criteria for ob esity used in the present study were: (i) body mass index (W/H-2) in k g/m2 greater-than-or-equal-to 25 and (ii) triceps skinfold measurement of greater-than-or-equal-to 25 mm (greater-than-or-equal-to 85th perc entile for ages 18-24 years). The prevalence rate of obesity by body m ass index was found to be 30.6% with more girls falling in the Grade I (26.1%) than the Grade II (4.5%) category. Using the skinfold measure ment as a standard, a smaller proportion (16.8%) of students was obser ved to be obese indicating variation in the sensitivity of the two ind ices as measures of body fatness. Irrespective of the method used for estimation, the prevalence of obesity in these young Saudi women was n otably high and supports findings of earlier studies for a common occu rrence of female obesity in this region. Preventive programmes for wei ght control and a healthy lifestyle among Saudi females should be emph asised from young adulthood or perhaps earlier.