Obesity among young Saudi female adults: a prevalence study on medical and nursing students.

The prevalence of obesity was examined among Saudi female medical and nursing students. The analysis was made on 222 students whose ages ranged from 18-25 years. Standard procedures for measuring weight, height and triceps skinfold measurements were conducted. The criteria for obesity used in the present study were: (i) body mass index (W/H2) in kg/m2 > or = 25 and (ii) triceps skinfold measurement of > or = 25 mm (> or = 85th percentile for ages 18-24 years). The prevalence rate of obesity by body mass index was found to be 30.6% with more girls falling in the Grade I (26.1%) than the Grade II (4.5%) category. Using the skinfold measurement as a standard, a smaller proportion (16.8%) of students was observed to be obese indicating variation in the sensitivity of the two indices as measures of body fatness. Irrespective of the method used for estimation, the prevalence of obesity in these young Saudi women was notably high and supports findings of earlier studies for a common occurrence of female obesity in this region. Preventive programmes for weight control and a healthy lifestyle among Saudi females should be emphasised from young adulthood or perhaps earlier.