Peer-reviewed article
Prevalence and age-related trends of overweight and obesity among Saudi children aged 2-14 years during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective cross-sectional study.
Al Shaikh H, Mushcab H, Ghanim Z, Al Yousif A, Al Talaq H et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined overweight and obesity rates among nearly 28,000 Saudi children aged 2-14 years using health clinic records from 2018 to 2024. Obesity affected 12.3% of children overall, rising sharply with age from 6.2% in the youngest group to 23.8% in children aged 12-14 years. Both obesity and overweight rates peaked in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting the pandemic worsened an existing public health problem in Saudi Arabia. The findings show boys were more affected than girls and highlight the need for early prevention strategies.
Key points
- Overall obesity prevalence was 12.3%, with males more affected (13.1%) than females (11.5%)
- Obesity increased steeply with age, from 6.2% in children aged 2-3 years to 23.8% in those aged 12-14 years
- Both obesity and overweight rates reached their highest values in 2020 (19.1% and 14.5% respectively), coinciding with the onset of COVID-19
- Overweight prevalence was 10.5% overall, ranging from 7.3% to 17.2% by age group
- The study analysed 28,275 children attending primary care clinics in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province
Limitations
This study is limited to children attending primary care clinics in one province of Saudi Arabia, which may not represent the entire national population and could exclude children without regular clinic access. The retrospective design using electronic records cannot determine causation or explore specific mechanisms through which COVID-19 affected obesity rates.
Abstract
Background Childhood obesity is a growing public health crisis in Saudi Arabia, which was intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study mapped the prevalence and trends among clinic-attending children to inform prevention strategies. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of electronic records for 28,275 Saudi children (aged 2-14 years) attending primary care clinics in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province (2018-2024). Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria (overweight: 85th-95th percentile; obesity: ≥95th percentile), excluding secondary causes. Crude and age-standardized prevalence rates were calculated by age, sex, and year using R software. Results Mean age was 5.46 years (51% female). Overall, obesity prevalence was 12.3% (higher in males: 13.1% vs. 11.5% females), rising from 6.2% (ages 2-3 years) to 23.8% (ages 12-14 years). Overweight prevalence was 10.5% (7.3%-17.2% by age). Both reached their highest observed values in 2020 (obesity: 19.1%; overweight: 14.5%), with year-to-year variation thereafter. Conclusion Age-related increases underscore the obesogenic environments among Saudi youth, with COVID-19 amplifying these risks. Findings highlight the need for resilient, Vision 2030-aligned prevention strategies focusing on early intervention and equity.