A SciTechnol Journal
Research Article
Ibrahim M, et al., J Food Nutri Disor 2021, 10:3
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Journal of Food &
Nutritional Disorders
International Publisher of Science,
Technology and Medicine
Assessment of Obesity and
it's Relation to Other Diseases
Among the Students of Faculty
of Applied Medical Sciences in
Albaha University, KSA
Mohamed Ibrahim
1
and Azhari Nour
2*
Abstract
Background: Obesity has been identifed an epidemic in Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia and yet the numbers of overweight and obese
adults and children continue to grow. The disease is associated
with several serious health conditions including: diabetes mellitus
type 2, heart disease, high blood pressure, Cancer, Hypoxia, Sleep
apnea, Hernia and Arthritis.
Objectives: To assess the efect of obesity on other diseases like
hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol levels, heart disease,
insomnia, eating habits, exercise and family history of gout among
university students.
Materials and methods: This study was done among 300 students
from diferent departments of the Faculty of Applied Medical
Sciences, Albaha University. The descriptive analytical method was
used which is based on the interview and observation and collection
of information through a questionnaire.
Results: The results showed hypertension in 11% of obese
students, while 9% of them have diabetes mellitus. Further fndings
among these 300 students showed 7% high cholesterol level, 14%
heart diseases, 20% sleep disorders, 85% do not exercise, 19%
eats more than three times a day, 17% prefers fast food and 86%
does not have meals with group, 15% of students have obesity in
their families while 2% have the history of obesity related disease
(gout).
Conclusion: Obesity is the possible predictor of diseases like
hypertension, diabetes and sleep related disorders among the
university students.
Keywords
Obesity; Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus; Heart disease; Albaha
*Corresponding author: Azhari Nour, Department of Applied Medical
Sciences, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia, Tel: 00966561119940; E-Mail:
azhari1933@gmail.com
Received: February 11, 2021 Accepted: February 25, 2021 Published:
March 03, 2021
with under-nutrition, obesity is a complex condition, with serious
social and psychological dimensions, afecting virtually all ages and
socioeconomic groups. Increased consumption of more energy-
dense, nutrient poor foods with high levels of sugar and saturated
fats, combined with reduced physical activity, have led to obesity
rates that have risen three-fold or more since 1980 in some areas of
North America, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, the Middle
East, the Pacifc Islands [2]. Obesity and overweight pose a major risk
for serious diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and certain forms
of cancer [3]. Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination
of excessive food energy intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic
susceptibility, although a few cases are caused primarily by genes,
endocrine disorders, medications, psychiatric illness or insomnia [4].
Evidence to support the view that some obese people eat little yet gain
weight due to a slow metabolism is limited. On average, obese people
have greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to
the energy required to maintain an increased body mass [5].
Dieting and exercising are the main treatments for obesity. Diet
quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-
dense foods, such as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing
the intake of dietary fber. With a suitable diet, anti-obesity drugs may
be taken to reduce appetite or decrease fat absorption. If diet, exercise,
and medication are not efective, a gastric balloon may assist with
weight loss, or surgery may be performed to reduce stomach volume
and/or bowel length, leading to feeling full earlier and a reduced ability
to absorb nutrients from food [6,7]. Obesity is a leading preventable
cause of death worldwide and one of the most serious public health
stigmatized in much of the modern world (particularly in the Western
world), though it was widely seen as a symbol of wealth and fertility at
other times in history and still is in some parts of the world [8].
In 2013, the American Medical Association classifed obesity as a
disease [9]. Te surgical literature breaks down "class III" obesity into
further categories whose exact values are still disputed: [10] 1) Body
Excessive body weight is associated with various diseases, particularly
cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, obstructive sleep
apnea, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis and asthma as a result,
obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy [4]. Large-scale
American and European studies have found that mortality risk is
in current smokers, with risk increasing along with changes in either
direction [11]. In Asians risk begins to increase between 22-25 kg/
by ten years [13]. Obesity increases the risk of many physical and
mental conditions. Tese co morbidities are most commonly shown
in metabolic syndrome [4], a combination of medical disorders which
includes: diabetes mellitus type 2, high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, and high triglyceride levels [14]. Health consequences fall
into two broad categories: those attributable to the efects of increased
fat mass (such as osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, and social
Introduction
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more
than 1 billion adults overweight at least 300 million of them clinically
obese and is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic
disease and disability [1]. Ofen coexisting in developing countries
problems of the 21
st
century among children and adults [2]. Obesity is
Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35 or 40 kg/m
2
is severe obesity. 2) BMI of ≥ 35
2
is super obesity.
kg/m
2
and experiencing obesity-related health conditions or ≥ 40-44.9
kg/m
2
is morbid obesity. 3) BMI of ≥ 45 or 50 kg/m
lowest at a BMI of 20-25 kg/m
2
in non-smokers and at 24-27 kg/m
2
2
reduces life expectancy by two to four m
2
[12]. BMI of 30-35 kg/m
years, while severe obesity (BMI>40 kg/m
2
) reduces life expectancy