Report card: Saudi Arabia

Report cardSaudi Arabia

1

Contents Page

Obesity prevalence 2

Trend: % Adults living with obesity, 1989-2019 4

Overweight/obesity by education 6

Overweight/obesity by age 8

Overweight/obesity by region 10

Overweight/obesity by socio-economic group 13

Insufficient physical activity 15

Estimated per capita fruit intake 18

Estimated per-capita processed meat intake 19

Estimated per capita whole grains intake 20

Mental health - depression disorders 21

Mental health - anxiety disorders 22

Oesophageal cancer 23

Breast cancer 25

Colorectal cancer 26

Pancreatic cancer 28

Gallbladder cancer 30

Kidney cancer 32

Cancer of the uterus 34

Raised blood pressure 35

Raised cholesterol 38

Raised fasting blood glucose 41

Diabetes prevalence 43

Health systems 44

Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2019

Adults Men Women0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Obesity Overweight

%

Survey type: Measured

Age: 18+

Sample size: 7890

Area covered: National

References: 2019 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia World Health Survey. https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Statistics/Population-

Health-Indicators/Documents/World-Health-Survey-Saudi-Arabia.pdf (Accessed 16.11.2021)

Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

2

https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Statistics/Population-Health-Indicators/Documents/World-Health-Survey-Saudi-Arabia.pdf


Children, 2018-2019

Children Boys Girls0

2

4

6

8

10

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 6-14

Sample size: 444259


References: Al Daajani, Manal M., Dina M. Al-Habib, Mona H. Ibrahim, Nora A. Al Shewear, Yahya M. Fagihi, Abrar A. Alzaher, Amjad

F. Alfaleh, and Khaled I. Alabdulkareem 2021. "Prevalence of Health Problems Targeted by the National School-Based

Screening Program among Primary School Students in Saudi Arabia, 2019" Healthcare 9, no. 10: 1310.

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9101310

Definitions: BMI data were plotted on Saudi’s sexâ��specific percentile charts and categorized into four groups: underweight (less than

5th percentile); normal weight (between 5th percentile and 85th percentile); overweight (between 85th and 95th

percentile); and obesity (more than 95th percentile)

Cutoffs: Other

3

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9101310

% Adults living with obesity, 1989-2019

Men

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 20200

5

10

15

20

25

Obesity

% o

besi

ty


References: 1989: Osman AK, Al-Nozha MM. Risk factors of coronary artery disease in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Eastern

Mediterranean health Journal;6:465-474

2013: Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS)

2019: 2019 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia World Health Survey. https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Statistics/Population-


Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please

check with original data sources for methodologies used.

4



Women

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 20200

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Obesity

% o

besi

ty


References: 1989: Osman AK, Al-Nozha MM. Risk factors of coronary artery disease in different regions of Saudi Arabia. Eastern

Mediterranean health Journal;6:465-474

2013: Saudi Health Interview Survey (SHIS)

2019: 2019 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia World Health Survey. https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/Statistics/Population-


Different methodologies may have been used to collect this data and so data from different surveys may not be strictly comparable. Please

check with original data sources for methodologies used.

5



Overweight/obesity by education

Adults, 2019

No formal education Less than secondary school Secondary school More than secondary school0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 18+

Sample size: 7890





6



Children, 2006

IlliteratePrimary

Intermediate School

High school

University (Bachelors Degree)

Higher Education (MA or PhD Degree)

0

10

20

30

40

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 6-16

Sample size: 1243

Area covered: Riyadh

References: Al Alwan &Idot;, Al Fattani A, Longford N. The Effect of Parental Socioeconomic Class on Children’s Body Mass

Indices. Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology. 2013;5(2):110-115. doi:10.4274/Jcrpe.898.

Notes: Prevalence of overweight and obesity by Fathers Education Obesity and overweight were defined using the WHO

2007 growth standards.

Cutoffs: WHO

7

Overweight/obesity by age

Adults, 2019

Age 18-29 Age 30-44 Age 45-59 Age 60-69 Age 70-79 Age 80+0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Obesity Overweight

%


Sample size: 7890





8



Children, 2006

Age 2-4 Age 5-9 Age 10-13 Age 14-180

10

20

30

40

50

Obesity Overweight

%


Sample size: 7056

Area covered: Eastern Province

References: Al-Dossary SS, Sarkis PE, Hassan A, Ezz El Regal M, Fouda AE. Obesity in Saudi children: a dangerous reality. East

Mediterr Health J. 2010 Sep;16(9):1003-8.

Notes: This study used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth charts to define BMI. The children

were classified into 3 weight categories: normal weight (BMI < 85th percentile for age and sex), overweight(BMI

between 85th–95th percentiles) and obese (BMI > 95th percentile).

Cutoffs: CDC

9

Overweight/obesity by region

Adults, 2019

Rural Urban0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 18+

Sample size: 7890





10



Boys, 2009-2010

Al-Kohbar Jeddah Riyadh0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 14-19

Sample size: 2,908


References: Al-Hazzaa, Abahussain, Al-Sobayel, Qahwaji, Alsulaiman, and Musaiger. 2014. Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and

Abdominal Obesity among Urban Saudi Adolescents: Gender and Regional Variations. J Health Popul Nutr. 32(4). pp.

634-645.

Notes: IOTF cut-offs used.

Cutoffs: IOTF

11

Girls, 2009-2010

Al-Kohbar Jeddah Riyadh0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 14-19

Sample size: 2,908


References: Al-Hazzaa, Abahussain, Al-Sobayel, Qahwaji, Alsulaiman, and Musaiger. 2014. Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and

Abdominal Obesity among Urban Saudi Adolescents: Gender and Regional Variations. J Health Popul Nutr. 32(4). pp.

634-645.

Notes: IOTF cut-offs used.

Cutoffs: IOTF

12

Overweight/obesity by socio-economic group

Adults, 2019

Lowest quintile Second Middle Fourth Highest quintile0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 18+

Sample size: 7890





13



Children, 2006

Less than 3000 3000-4999 5000-6999 7000-9999 10000-14999 15000-19999 20000+0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Obesity Overweight

%


Age: 6-16

Sample size: 1243

Area covered: Riyadh

References: Al Alwan &Idot;, Al Fattani A, Longford N. The Effect of Parental Socioeconomic Class on Children’s Body Mass

Indices. Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology. 2013;5(2):110-115. doi:10.4274/Jcrpe.898.

Notes: Prevalence of overweight and obesity by Income (Saudi Riyal/Month). Obesity and overweight were defined using the

WHO 2007 growth standards.

Cutoffs: WHO

14

Insufficient physical activity

Adults, 2016

Jordan Morocco Tunisia Egypt Oman Iran Pakistan Lebanon Libya Qatar UAE Iraq Saudi Arabia Kuwait0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

% in

suffi

cien

t phy

sica

l act

ivity

References: Guthold R, Stevens GA, Riley LM, Bull FC. Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled

analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-

109X(18)30357-7

15

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

Men, 2016

JordanMorocco

Iran EgyptPakistan

TunisiaOman

LibyaQatar

UAEIraq Lebanon

Saudi Arabia

Kuwait

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% in

suffi

cien

t phy

sica

l act

ivity



109X(18)30357-7

16

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

Women, 2016

Jordan Morocco Lebanon Tunisia Egypt Oman Libya Pakistan Iran Qatar UAE Iraq Saudi Arabia Kuwait0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

% in

suffi

cien

t phy

sica

l act

ivity



109X(18)30357-7

17

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X

Estimated per capita fruit intake

Adults, 2017

DjiboutiSomalia

Afghanistan

PakistanIraq Yemen

South Sudan

SudanPalestine

SyriaJordan

LibyaKuwait

Saudi Arabia

TunisiaUAE

LebanonEgypt

MoroccoBahrain

Iran QatarOman

0

50

100

150

200

250

g/da

y


Age: 25+

References: Global Burden of Disease, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation http://ghdx.healthdata.org/

Definitions: Estimated per-capita fruit intake (g/day)

18

http://ghdx.healthdata.org/

Estimated per-capita processed meat intake

Adults, 2017

Afghanistan

YemenSomalia

Palestine

SudanSyria

JordanLibya

TunisiaMorocco

Iraq LebanonIran South Sudan

Saudi Arabia

DjiboutiEgypt

PakistanOman

BahrainUAE

KuwaitQatar

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

g/da

y


Age: 25+


Definitions: Estimated per-capita processed meat intake (g per day)

19


Estimated per capita whole grains intake

Adults, 2017

MoroccoLebanon

Afghanistan

Iran YemenJordan

PakistanSudan

SyriaTunisia

LibyaPalestine

BahrainIraq Qatar

UAEDjibouti

Saudi Arabia

KuwaitSomalia

OmanEgypt

South Sudan

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

g/da

y


Age: 25+


Definitions: Estimated per-capita whole grains intake (g/day)

20


Mental health - depression disorders

Adults, 2015

Afghanistan

EgyptSudan

YemenIraq Syria

JordanSomalia

PakistanSouth Sudan

LibyaMorocco

Saudi Arabia

LebanonOman

BahrainIran Tunisia

KuwaitDjibouti

QatarUAE

0

1

2

3

4

5

% o

f pop

ulat

ion

References: Prevalence data from Global Burden of Disease study 2015 (http://ghdx.healthdata.org) published in: Depression and

Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-

NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Definitions: % of population with depression disorders

21

http://ghdx.healthdata.org

Mental health - anxiety disorders

Adults, 2015

SomaliaSouth Sudan

DjiboutiPakistan

Afghanistan

OmanSudan

UAEYemen

EgyptQatar

BahrainJordan

Saudi Arabia

SyriaIraq Libya

MoroccoIran Kuwait

TunisiaLebanon

0

1

2

3

4

5

% o

f pop

ulat

ion

References: Prevalence data from Global Burden of Disease study 2015 (http://ghdx.healthdata.org) published in: Depression and

Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2017. Licence: CC BY-

NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

Definitions: % of population with anxiety disorders

22

http://ghdx.healthdata.org

Oesophageal cancer

Men, 2018

LebanonPalestine

Iraq OmanSyria

TunisiaJordan

BahrainQatar

Saudi Arabia

LibyaMorocco

UAEEgypt

KuwaitDjibouti

SudanYemen

PakistanIran Somalia

South Sudan

Afghanistan

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+

References: Global Cancer Observatory, Cancer incidence rates http://gco.iarc.fr/ (last accessed 30th June 2020)

Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, oesophagus, adults ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

23

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Women, 2018

LibyaPalestine

LebanonSyria

TunisiaIraq Jordan

MoroccoEgypt

Saudi Arabia

BahrainUAE

KuwaitOman

QatarDjibouti

PakistanSudan

Iran South Sudan

YemenAfghanistan

Somalia

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, oesophagus, adults ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

24

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Breast cancer

Women, 2018

LibyaYemen

Saudi Arabia

Afghanistan

Iran TunisiaSouth Sudan

OmanIraq Sudan

DjiboutiSomalia

QatarPakistan

BahrainMorocco

EgyptUAE

KuwaitPalestine

JordanSyria

Lebanon

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, breast, females, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

25

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Colorectal cancer

Men, 2018

PakistanAfghanistan

DjiboutiSudan

EgyptIraq South Sudan

SomaliaYemen

OmanMorocco

KuwaitLibya

TunisiaQatar

BahrainSyria

Iran UAEJordan

Saudi Arabia

LebanonPalestine

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, colorectum, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

26

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Women, 2018

Afghanistan

PakistanSudan

Iraq DjiboutiEgypt

South Sudan

SomaliaYemen

OmanMorocco

Saudi Arabia

TunisiaIran Bahrain

LibyaUAE

QatarKuwait

SyriaPalestine

JordanLebanon

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, colorectum, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

27

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Pancreatic cancer

Men, 2018

DjiboutiSudan

PakistanSomalia

Afghanistan

QatarSouth Sudan

UAEYemen

Saudi Arabia

MoroccoIraq Tunisia

KuwaitIran Oman

BahrainSyria

Palestine

LebanonEgypt

JordanLibya

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, pancreas, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

28

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Women, 2018

PakistanDjibouti

Afghanistan

SudanSaudi Arabia

SomaliaMorocco

TunisiaSouth Sudan

Iraq YemenOman

JordanSyria

Iran EgyptLebanon

BahrainPalestine

LibyaQatar

KuwaitUAE

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, pancreas, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

29

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Gallbladder cancer

Men, 2018

DjiboutiYemen

SudanSouth Sudan

SomaliaAfghanistan

MoroccoIraq Egypt

Iran BahrainSaudi Arabia

PakistanLebanon

LibyaSyria

KuwaitTunisia

Palestine

QatarJordan

OmanUAE

0

1

2

3

4

5

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, gallbladder, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

30

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Women, 2018

YemenDjibouti

EgyptIran Oman

South Sudan

SudanSaudi Arabia

SomaliaBahrain

MoroccoAfghanistan

Iraq KuwaitPalestine

LebanonSyria

TunisiaJordan

QatarPakistan

LibyaUAE

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, gallbladder, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

31

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Kidney cancer

Men, 2018

YemenSouth Sudan

DjiboutiSomalia

SudanPakistan

Afghanistan

MoroccoBahrain

OmanQatar

TunisiaIraq Kuwait

EgyptIran Saudi Arabia

UAEJordan

SyriaLibya

Palestine

Lebanon

0

2

4

6

8

10

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, kidney, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per 100,000

32

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Women, 2018

YemenSouth Sudan

BahrainMorocco

SudanPakistan

Afghanistan

SomaliaDjibouti

EgyptIraq Oman

KuwaitTunisia

LibyaIran Syria

Saudi Arabia

JordanLebanon

Palestine

QatarUAE

0

1

2

3

4

5

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, kidney, adults, ages 20+. ASR (World) per 100,000

33

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Cancer of the uterus

Women, 2018

YemenIraq Egypt

Iran Palestine

Saudi Arabia

JordanKuwait

SyriaBahrain

QatarTunisia

LebanonOman

UAEAfghanistan

PakistanSudan

LibyaDjibouti

MoroccoSomalia

South Sudan

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Inci

denc

e pe

r 100

,000

Age: 20+


Definitions: Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, cervix uteri, females, ages 20+. ASR (World) per

100,000

34

http://gco.iarc.fr/

Raised blood pressure

Adults, 2015

Iran LebanonJordan

UAEBahrain

QatarTunisia

Saudi Arabia

KuwaitLibya

SyriaOman

EgyptIraq Morocco

DjiboutiPakistan

Afghanistan

YemenSomalia

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

% ra

ised

blo

od p

ress

ure

References: Global Health Observatory data repository, World Health Organisation,

http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A875?lang=en

Definitions: Age Standardised estimated % Raised blood pressure 2015 (SBP>=140 OR DBP>=90).

35


Men, 2015

Iran UAEBahrain

QatarJordan

LebanonTunisia

Saudi Arabia

EgyptSyria

LibyaKuwait

Iraq OmanMorocco

DjiboutiYemen

Afghanistan

PakistanSomalia

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

% ra

ised

blo

od p

ress

ure




36


Women, 2015

LebanonUAE

JordanIran Bahrain

QatarKuwait

Saudi Arabia

LibyaOman

TunisiaSyria

Iraq EgyptDjibouti

MoroccoPakistan

Afghanistan

YemenSomalia

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

% ra

ised

blo

od p

ress

ure




37


Raised cholesterol

Adults, 2008

Afghanistan

SomaliaPakistan

YemenSudan

LibyaDjibouti

MoroccoSaudi Arabia

EgyptSyria

TunisiaIraq Lebanon

JordanOman

BahrainIran Kuwait

QatarUAE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% ra

ised

cho

lest

erol


http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.A885

Definitions: % Raised total cholesterol (>= 5.0 mmol/L) (age-standardized estimate).

38


Men, 2008

Afghanistan

SomaliaPakistan

YemenSudan

EgyptLibya

MoroccoSaudi Arabia

DjiboutiTunisia

SyriaLebanon

Iraq JordanOman

Iran BahrainKuwait

QatarUAE

0

10

20

30

40

50

% ra

ised

cho

lest

erol




39


Women, 2008

Afghanistan

SomaliaPakistan

SudanYemen

DjiboutiLibya

MoroccoSaudi Arabia

SyriaTunisia

Iraq EgyptLebanon

JordanOman

BahrainKuwait

QatarIran UAE

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% ra

ised

cho

lest

erol




40


Raised fasting blood glucose

Men, 2014

SomaliaDjibouti

SudanYemen

BahrainPakistan

Afghanistan

LebanonOman

Iran TunisiaMorocco

SyriaUAE

LibyaSaudi Arabia

JordanIraq Qatar

KuwaitEgypt

0

5

10

15

20

% ra

ised

fast

ing

bloo

d gl

ucos

e



Definitions: Age Standardised % raised fasting blood glucose (>= 7.0 mmol/L or on medication).

41


Women, 2014

SomaliaSudan

DjiboutiIran Afghanistan

BahrainTunisia

PakistanYemen

MoroccoSyria

OmanLebanon

UAELibya

EgyptJordan

Iraq Saudi Arabia

QatarKuwait

0

5

10

15

20

% ra

ised

fast

ing

bloo

d gl

ucos

e



Definitions: Age Standardised % raised fasting blood glucose (>= 7.0 mmol/L or on medication).

42


Diabetes prevalence

Adults, 2021

YemenSomalia

South Sudan

DjiboutiLebanon

LibyaIran Morocco

TunisiaIraq Afghanistan

BahrainOman

SyriaJordan

UAESaudi Arabia

SudanQatar

EgyptKuwait

Pakistan

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

% d

iabe

tes

prev

alen

ce

Age: 20-79


References: Reproduced with kind permission International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas, 10th edn. Brussels,

Belgium:International Diabetes Federation, 2021. http://www.diabetesatlas.org

Definitions: Age-adjusted comparative prevalence of diabetes, %

43

http://www.diabetesatlas.org

Health systems

Economic classification: High Income

Health systems summary

Saudi Arabia has a national health care system that is provided and financed by the Ministry of Health. Full and free at point of service care is available to all citizens (as well as expats working within the public sector), with services provided for at primary, secondary and tertiary level. Free healthcare is also provided to the approximately 2 million pilgrims visiting the holy cities (Mecca & Medina), putting an immense strain on the healthcare budget. This public system also struggles with staffing, with most health professionals being expatriates.

To complement the national system, there is cooperative health insurance provided by private employers and the government (for public workers only). This is compulsory for all working non-Saudi nationals and Saudi nationals who work in the private sector. Citizens also have the choice to have private health insurance schemes to enter the private healthcare system.

Indicators

Where is the country’s government in the journey towards defining ‘Obesity as a disease’? Defined as disease

Where is the country’s healthcare provider in the journey towards defining ‘Obesity as a

disease’?

Some progress

Is there specialist training available dedicated to the training of health professionals to

prevent, diagnose, treat and manage obesity?

Yes

Have any taxes or subsidies been put in place to protect/assist/inform the population around

obesity?

Yes

Are there adequate numbers of trained health professionals in specialties relevant to obesity

in urban areas?

Some progress

Are there adequate numbers of trained health professionals in specialties relevant to obesity

in rural areas?

No

Are there any obesity-specific recommendations or guidelines published for adults? Yes

Are there any obesity-specific recommendations or guidelines published for children? Yes

In practice, how is obesity treatment largely funded? Out of pocket

44

Perceived barriers to treatment

Lack of political will, interest and action

Lack of treatment facilities

Lack of training for HCP's and lack of

trained HCP's

Lack of treatment guidelines or pathway

Poor availability of pharmaceuticals

Cultural norms and traditions

Lack of knowledge of potential treatment

options

Lack of opportunity for physical activity

Summary of stakeholder feedback

Stakeholders reported that a lot of work has been done around obesity prevention and control in recent years, with obesity being recognised as a disease by many.

There is said to be a range of treatment options available that are government funded. Demand, however, is high in the public sector and so many of those seeking treatment obtain support via the private system as an out of pocket expense. Demand in the public system is said to be so high that people only get treatment when they have comorbidities, and even then, it is on a case by case basis. Bariatric surgery and obesity medication is also covered by the cooperative health insurance for those that meet the criteria (BMI ≥ 45 kg/m² for surgery) but this is a recent change.

It was generally agreed that one of the main ways in which people enter the system is via referral when they have comorbidities and their obesity is affecting their health. However, treatments are more readily available in urban areas, with patients in rural areas commonly referred to the cities.

Stakeholders noted that government and association guidelines exist but suggested that these are not yet fully implemented within the health system and at times they did not match insurance criteria. For example, government guidelines recommended surgical intervention for those with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m² with comorbidities, but cooperative health insurance only covers surgery when BMI ≥ 45 kg/m².

It was reported that there is limited specialist obesity training available. There appears to be a focus on bariatric surgery, with trainees funded to train. Away from this, there is one bariatric surgery fellowship program and a bariatric medicine fellowship programme, but they are both located in Riyadh. Stakeholders called for more training that encouraged multidisciplinary working.

Based on interviews/survey returns from 6 stakeholders

Last updated: June 2020

PDF created on April 11, 2022

45

Report card: Saudi Arabia

Documents

Transcript of Report card: Saudi Arabia