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.