| Title: |
Prevalence and comorbidities of self-reported physician-diagnosed obesity among adults attending primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey |
| Authors: |
Emad Aljohani; Mamdouh M. Shubair; Faris Fatani; Tahani Mubarak Alotaibi; Aljohrah Ibrahim Aldubikhi; Awad Alshahrani; Badr F. Al-Khateeb; Abdullah A. Albarrak; Nadia Mohamad Asiri; Ashraf El-Metwally |
| Source: |
Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 14 (2026) |
| Publisher Information: |
Frontiers Media S.A., 2026. |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
LCC:Public aspects of medicine |
| Subject Terms: |
comorbidities; obesity; predictors; prevalence; Saudi Arabia; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270 |
| Description: |
ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed obesity and identify its risk factors among adults attending primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to July 2023. Participants aged 18 years or older attending 48 randomly selected primary healthcare centers were recruited using a multistage sampling approach, involving random selection of primary healthcare centers followed by systematic random sampling of attendees. Obesity status was defined based on self-reported prior physician diagnosis of obesity, collected using a validated questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with obesity.ResultsA total of 14,239 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed obesity was 5.2% (95% CI: 4.9–5.6). Males were 30% less likely to be obese than females (AOR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.60–0.86), while smokers were more than twice as likely to be obese compared to non-smokers (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.94–2.89). Fast food consumers higher odds of obesity (AOR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.24–2.09). Obesity was also positively associated with diabetes (AOR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.15–1.89), hypertension (AOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.23–2.09), hypercholesterolemia (AOR: 4.36; 95% CI: 3.43–5.55), and heart disease (AOR: 4.46; 95% CI: 3.47–5.74).ConclusionSelf-reported physician-diagnosed obesity was significantly associated with behavioral and cardiometabolic risk factors among adults attending primary healthcare centers. These findings highlight the importance of early identification and integrated management of obesity-related comorbidities in primary care settings. |
| Document Type: |
article |
| File Description: |
electronic resource |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
2296-2565 |
| Relation: |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755138/full; https://doaj.org/toc/2296-2565 |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fpubh.2026.1755138 |
| Access URL: |
https://doaj.org/article/ffefc04dd6554500a7bdf361069179c5 |
| Accession Number: |
edsdoj.ffefc04dd6554500a7bdf361069179c5 |
| Database: |
Directory of Open Access Journals |