Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome among adult Kuwaitis: results from community-based national survey.
BACKGROUND
Although, metabolic syndrome and obesity are cardiovascular risk factors, little systematically collected community-based data are available from the Arabian Gulf region.


METHODS
We report a nationwide cross-sectional study from Kuwait. A random sample was selected. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Blood tests including fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were collected. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to International Diabetes Federation criteria. Overweight and obesity were defined as body mass index >or=25, and body mass index >or=30, respectively.


RESULTS
Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in adult Kuwaiti population were 80.4%, 47.5%, and 36.2%, respectively. Overweight and obesity rates were higher in women 81.9% and 53% compared to men 78% and 39.2%, respectively (P = .02, P > .001). MetS was equally distributed between men and women at 36.2% and 36.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome is alarmingly high in Kuwait. This requires urgent and active community-based public health intervention.
Al Rashdan
Ibrahim
I
Chest Diseases Hospital. i.alrashdan@Kuwaitheart.org , Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. i.alrashdan@Kuwaitheart.org
Al Nesef
Yousef
Y
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult