Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in Saudi adult soldiers.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors among men aged 20 years and above.


METHODS
The study involved a cross-sectional survey of 2,250 Saudi male soldiers aged between 20 and 60 years residing in a military city in northern Saudi Arabia conducted in 2004. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and a brief medical history were obtained in a pre-set questionnaire. Serum lipid profile and fasting plasma sugar were requested for all the subjects. A total of 1,079 subjects responded with a response rate of 47.9%. A multivariate analysis was performed to assess the relationship between general obesity, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors.


RESULTS
Over 82% of the subjects were either overweight or obese. Abdominal obesity was found in one third, and approximately half were either current or ex-smokers. The means of anthropometric and laboratory measured risk factors for cardiovascular disease showed a progressive rise with increase in age, abdominal, and general obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown a high prevalence of overweight and obesity positively correlated with the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Saudi adult male soldiers. There is a need for concerted efforts aimed at achieving ideal body-weight together with a reduction in the co-existent risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Al-Qahtani
Dhafer A
DA
Department of Primary Care and Emergency Medicine, Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital, PO Box 10018, KKMC, Hafr Al-Batin 31991, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. hateemcol16@hotmail.com
Imtiaz
Mohammed L
ML
Shareef
Mohammed M
MM
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology