scholarly journals Overweight and Obesity in Eastern Mediterranean Region: Prevalence and Possible Causes

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman O. Musaiger
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Sugary Beverages ◽  
Duration Of Breastfeeding ◽  
Skipping Breakfast

The objective of this paper was to explore the prevalence of overweight and obesity among various age groups as well as discuss the possible factors that associated with obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A systematic review of published papers between 1990 and 2011 was carried out. Obesity reached an alarming level in all age groups of the EMR countries. The prevalence of overweight among preschool children(<5 years) ranged from 1.9% to 21.9%, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children ranged from 7% to 45%. Among adults the prevalence of overweight and obesity ranged from 25% to 81.9%. Possible factors determining obesity in this region include: nutrition transition, inactivity, urbanization, marital status, a shorter duration of breastfeeding, frequent snacking, skipping breakfast, a high intake of sugary beverages, an increase in the incidence of eating outside the home, long periods of time spent viewing television, massive marketing promotion of high fat foods, stunting, perceived body image, cultural elements and food subsidize policy. A national plan of action to overcome obesity is urgently needed to reduce the economic and health burden of obesity in this region.

scholarly journals Overweight and obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: can we control it?

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 789-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. O. Musaiger
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
National Programmes ◽  
The Status ◽  
Prevalence Of Obesity ◽  
And Control

Obesity has become an epidemic problem worldwide, and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region the status of overweight has reached an alarming level. A prevalence of 3%-9% overweight and obesity has been recorded among preschool children, while that among schoolchildren was 12%-25%. A marked increase in obesity generally has been noted among adolescents, ranging from 15% to 45%. In adulthood, women showed a higher prevalence of obesity [35%-75%] than men [30%-60%]. Several factors, such as change in dietary habits, socioeconomic factors, inactivity and multiparity [among women] determine obesity in this Region. There is an urgent need for national programmes to prevent and control obesity in the countries of the Region

scholarly journals Implementation of WHO Recommended Policies and Interventions on Healthy Diet in the Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region: From Policy to Action

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3700
Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Asmus Hammerich ◽  
Radhouene Doggui ◽  
Kaia Engesveen ◽  
Krista Lang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Salt Reduction ◽  
Nutrition And Diet ◽  
Concrete Action

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for almost two-thirds of the deaths in the 22 countries and territories of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and unhealthy diets are a major contributor. Prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased among adults, adolescents and older children in recent decades. Among countries with the highest prevalence there are signs that the increase is slowing down or even that prevalence is declining. There has been no increase in the prevalence rate in younger children, although the absolute number of children under five years affected by overweight has increased. This review summarizes prevalence data and examines current implementation of regulatory, fiscal and voluntary measures to promote healthy diet across the Region. The last decade has seen a step up in such action. Ten of the Region’s countries have policies relating to trans-fatty acids and they are increasingly implementing specific regulatory measures. Thirteen countries had fully or partially implemented national salt reduction policies by 2019. Only four countries had adopted policies relating to aspects of marketing food to children by 2019, and concrete action in this area is still lacking. Eight countries have introduced taxes—sometimes at a rate of 50%—on carbonated or sugar-sweetened beverages. In order to meet the agreed global and regional goals relating to nutrition and diet-related NCDs, countries will need to build on this progress and scale up action across the Region while intensifying efforts in areas where concrete action is lacking.

scholarly journals Differences in Dietary Intakes among Lebanese Adults over a Decade: Results from Two National Surveys 1997–2008/2009

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Nasreddine ◽  
Jennifer J. Ayoub ◽  
Fatima Hachem ◽  
Jiana Tabbara ◽  
Abla M. Sibai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Dietary Assessment ◽  
Nutrition Transition ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Fats And Oils ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income

Amidst the ongoing societal and economic shifts in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR), this study aims at investigating temporal trends in food consumption and nutrient intakes among Lebanese adults, by age and sex. Data were derived from two national cross-sectional surveys conducted in Lebanon during two time periods (1997; 2008/2009). In both surveys, dietary assessment was based on 24-h recalls. The results, expressed as % energy intake (%EI), revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the consumption of bread, fruits, fresh fruit juices, milk and eggs, whereas the consumption of added fats and oils, poultry, cereals and cereal-based products, chips and salty crackers, sweetened milk and hot beverages increased over time (p < 0.001). A significant increase in dietary energy (kcal/day) and fat intake (%EI) was observed, coupled with decreases in carbohydrate intake (%EI) and dietary density of vitamin A and vitamin C (per 1000 kcal) (p < 0.001). These changes were noted in both genders and across age groups, albeit there were some disparities between groups. In conclusion, based on national nutrition surveys, this study is the first to characterize the nutrition transition in a middle-income country of the EMR, shedding light on priority areas for nutrition policies and interventions.

Abstract P384: Overweight, Obesity and its Correlates among Adolescents: a Comparison of Eleven Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine S Autenrieth ◽  
Regina Guthold ◽  
Melanie J Cowan ◽  
Laura Kann ◽  
Faten Ben Abdelaziz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Levels

Background: Overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, and sedentary behavior are important risk factors for chronic diseases; however, for the youth in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), comparable prevalence data are lacking. Methods: We used data from nationally representative samples of 34,410 13-15 year old schoolchildren who participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen). Data on height, weight, physical activity levels, and sedentary behavior were collected from 2005-2009 in these eleven EMR countries and sex- and country-specific prevalence rates were calculated. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obese youth ranged from 6.5% in Pakistan (boys: 5.1%, girls: 8.7%) to 37.6% in the United Arab Emirates (boys: 39.2%, girls: 36.1%), whereas underweight was highest in Yemen (20.8%; boys: 25.4%, girls: 13.0%) and lowest in Egypt (4.0%; boys: 4.7%, girls: 3.2%). Six of the eleven countries had an overweight and obese rate higher than 20%. The combined risk factors of overweight, insufficient amount of physical activity (< 5 days of at least 60 minutes per week), and sedentary behavior (≥ 3 hours of sitting activities per day) ranged from 0.5% in Pakistan to 12.3% in the United Arab Emirates. Conclusion: These data suggest that prevalence of overweight schoolchildren is high in EMR countries. In addition, physical activity levels were below recommendation guidelines in most of the surveyed countries. Efforts to prevent these unfortunate trends should be taken on regional and national levels.

scholarly journals Impact evaluation of soft drink taxes as part of nutrition policies in Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1287
Author(s):  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh ◽  
Rania Megally
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Soft Drink ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
The Impact

Background: Prevalence of overweight and obesity is high in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and there are higher rates in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This had led GCC countries to impose policies that aim to decrease obesity, overweight, and diabetes rates. The objective of this research is to measure the impact of such implemented policy to reduce obesity, namely taxes applied to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) in GCC. Methods: The impact of SSB taxes has been measured using a panel data set that covers sales volumes of soft drinks in GCC countries from 2010 to 2020. Results: annual growth in soft drink sales volumes decreased; from 5.44% to 1.33% in Saudi Arabia, 7.37% to 5.93% in United Arab Emirates, and 5.25% to 5.09% in Bahrain from 2016 to 2017. In Qatar, a tax was implemented in 2019, and a reduction in sales volume growth was observed between 2019 and 2020 (3.78% to 2.45%), and in Oman a reduction was observed between 2018 and 2019 (3.60% to 2.99%). Kuwait was the last GCC country to implement taxes in 2020, and the growth in sales volumes decreased from 6.31% to 5.47% from 2019 to 2020. Conclusions: The introduction of health-related taxes on soft drinks has been followed by a drop in the growth rates of sales in GCC countries. This, in turn, can be expected to contribute to a reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity, especially when combined with complementary public health policies and interventions. Hence, awareness campaigns should promote the reduction of the consumption sales of SSB and substitute with more consumption of fresh juices. These recommendations align with the recommended priority actions by the World Health Organization Strategy on nutrition for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2020-2030 adopted by the countries of the Region in October 2019.

scholarly journals Scaling Up Obesity and NCD Prevention in the Eastern Mediterranean Region through Fat Reduction Intake Strategies at Population Levels

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayoub Al Jawaldeh ◽  
Hanin Al-Jawaldeh
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Infant Nutrition ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
High Blood Glucose ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases

NCDs are the leading cause of mortality globally which estimated 40 million death per year (68% of total death), with cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), around 60% of all deaths are attributed to NCDs. Two-thirds of NCD premature deaths are linked to 4 shared modifiable behavioural risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. These unhealthy behaviours lead to 4 key metabolic/biological changes that increase the risk of NCDs: raised blood pressure, overweight/obesity, high blood glucose levels/diabetes, and hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat in the blood). Globally, countries are already working towards agreed global goals on maternal and infant nutrition and on the prevention of NCDs, and both these include halting the increase in overweight and obesity and reducing NCD diet-related risk factors including reducing saturated fatty acids (SFA) and Trans fatty acid (TFA) intake. According to values reported for countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, average SFA intake is estimated at 10.3% of energy intake (EI), thus exceeding the WHO recommended level of 10% EI. Average TFA intake in EMR countries is estimated at 1.9% EI, which also exceeds the WHO recommended levels of 1% EI. The EMR region was reported amongst the regions with the highest levels of TFA intake. The highest SFA intake was reported from Djibouti, Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia and Yemen, while the highest TFA intakes were reported from Egypt and Pakistan. If countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region receive immediate public health attention, that toll of NCD-related morbidity and mortality can be considerably decreased if evidence-based preventive interventions are implemented effectively. In this context, reductions in saturated fat and trans fat intakes have been highlighted as cost-effective strategies that may hamper the growth of the NCD epidemic.

scholarly journals Nutritional Anaemia and Obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: The Protective Role of Breastfeeding for Two Years

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azza Abul-Fadl ◽  
Afaf Tawfik ◽  
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽  
Protective Role ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Income Groups

Background: The preexistence of obesity with nutritional anaemia is becoming an increasing problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Much controversy exists around the role of continued breastfeeding in alleviating the health and survival consequences of these problems in the region. Aim: To examine trends and relationships of nutritional anaemia (NA) in women and children under-five years of age (CU5) with obesity and breastfeeding practices in the EMR. Methods: Data from regional database banks of WHO and UNICEF for anaemia in pregnant and non-pregnant women and CU5 from 22 countries in EMR were retrieved, compiled, and statistically analyzed. Breastfeeding indicators for timely first suckle (TFS), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and continued breastfeeding for 12 (BFC12) and 24 months (BFC24), low-birth-weight (LBW), stunting, overweight, total fertility rates (TFR) and mortality rates (MR) were correlated with nutritional anaemia and analyzed by income groups into 5 low income countries (LIC), 11 middle income countries (MIC) and 6 high income countries (HIC). Results: Trends in mean prevalence of anaemia in women showed a concave curve increasing after a short decrease in the early 2000 in all income groups (P &gt; 0.05). Trends in anaemia in the CU5 exhibited a steep decrease from a mean of 52.59 &plusmn; 16.4 in 2000 to 37.3 &plusmn; 14.9 in 2016 at P &lt; 0.002, the steep decline was significant in HIC (P &lt; 0.01) and MIC (P &lt; 0.02), but not for LIC (P &gt; 0.05). Anaemia prevalence in women and CU5 was significantly correlated to LBW, stunting, and with overweight and obesity in adults but negatively in CU5. All age specific MRs were highly correlated with anaemia in pregnant, non-pregnant and CU5 at P &lt; 0.001 and TFR at P &lt; 0.05. BFC for shorter durations was negatively correlated with anaemia in pregnant women (r-0.5) at P &lt; 0.05 and was positively correlated in MIC and HIC. In non-pregnant women, BFC12 and BFC 24 correlated positively with anaemia prevalence in all three income groups at P &lt; 0.01. Conclusions: Completing optimal breastfeeding for two years should be promoted to protect women and CU5 from anemia and obesity. Nutritional anemia during pregnancy increases regional rates of LBW, stunting and mortality. Spacing out births by encouraging longer duration of breastfeeding, to replenish iron stores, can help alleviate many of the health and nutritional problems in the region.

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