EFFECT OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY ON GLUCOSE-INTOLERANCE AND DYSLIPIDEMIA IN SAUDI-ARABIA, EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY

The aim of this study was to study the effect of overweight and obesit y on glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sec tional national epidemiological randomized household survey of 2059 Sa udi subjects, aged 30-64 years was carried out. The sample was represe ntative and was in accordance with the national population distributio n with respect to age, gender, regional and residency, urban Versus ru ral population distribution. The subjects height and weight for the ca lculation of body mass index (BMI) was measured. Blood samples were dr awn and assayed for glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Low density lipoprotein (LDL) was calculate d. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out for subjects with b orderline random glucose concentration and the overall prevalence of d iabetes mellitus was calculated. A high prevalence of obesity among th e Saudi population was observed and mean serum glucose concentration w as significantly higher among overweight and obese groups. The prevale nce of diabetes mellitus was significantly higher among obese groups. The mean serum triglyceride concentration was only significantly highe r among male obese groups. There was no significant difference in the mean of serum total cholesterol concentration between control and obes e groups. Mean serum HDL concentration was lower among the obese group , however, the difference was not significant. There was no significan t difference in the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia between control and obese groups. Prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was higher among obese groups and was significantly higher among male subjects across all BMI groups. Prevalence of hypo HDL cholesterolemia exceeded 50% bf the study population. Obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertriglyceride mia, hypo HDL cholesterolemia and features of insulin resistance syndr ome (IRS) are widely prevalent among the Saudi population over the age of 40 years. IRS is probable a significant contributor to the patholo gic process of cardiovascular (CVD) disease among the Saudi population , especially in view of the low prevalence of hypercholesterolemia. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd.