Prevalence of obesity in a saudi obstetric population

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and its determinants during the first month of gestation in Saudi women. Methods: Retrospective chart review of measured BMI in Al-Hassa, the largest province in Saudi Arabia, in 2007. Data were collected from records of 791 (72.6% of 1,089) pregnant women registered for prenatal care. Results: Height shows a normal Gaussian distribution, whereas weight is skewed positively (skewness of 0.77). The prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) were 8.5, 39.3, 23.6, 23.9, and 4.7%, respectively. Logistic regression revealed that the most important significant independent predictors of obesity are parity of 4 and more (odds ratio (OR) = 5.8) and urban residence (OR = 4.9). Conclusion: Overweight, obesity, and extreme obesity are common (>52%) among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia. Health education to control body weight before pregnancy is warranted. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.