title: Prevalence of obesity among military personnel in Saudi Arabia and associated risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence of obesity among military personnel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and to identify its risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This nationwide cross-sectional study covered all 5 military regions of KSA. It included a multistage stratified random sample of 10,500 active military personnel. The World Health Organization STEP wise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) was used in the design of the data collection tool. The project lasted from January 2009 to February 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 97.4%; 40.9% of the participants were overweight, 29% obese, and 42.4% had central obesity. Multivariate analysis revealed age, education years, and family history of diabetes or hypertension as statistically significant positive predictors of body mass index, while higher military rank, smoking, eating fruits more than twice per week, and heavy physical activities were negative predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is a major health problem among military personnel in this survey especially among soldiers, and is associated with unhealthy dietary and physical activity habits. Prompt action must be taken by the military medical services department in terms of intervention programs primarily directed to soldiers and overweight personnel to control obesity and mitigate its consequences. Review of the anthropometric standards for recruitment, continuation, and promotion in military service is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Medical Services Department, Ministry of Defence, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghalib
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bin Horaib
authors.forename: Hesham I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Al-Khashan
authors.forename: Adel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mishriky
authors.forename: Mohei A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Selim
authors.forename: Noura
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alnowaiser
authors.forename: Abdulaziz A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Binsaeed
authors.forename: Ahmed D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Alawad
authors.forename: Abdulrahman K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Asmari
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alqumaizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology