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
Hanan Al Shaikh, Hayat Mushcab, Zainab Ghanim, Amena Al Yousif, Halima Al Talaq, Maha Abussaud, Anwar AlotaibiBackground
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.