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Exploring Weight Stigma in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Nora A. Althumiri

    (Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mada H. Basyouni

    (Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia
    Ministry of Health, Riyadh 11176, Saudi Arabia)

  • Norah AlMousa

    (Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia
    Public Health College, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim

    (Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia
    Pharmacy College, King Faisal University, AlAhsa 31982, Saudi Arabia)

  • Adel A. Alhamdan

    (Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia)

  • Faisal Saeed Al-Qahtani

    (Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia)

  • Nasser F. BinDhim

    (Sharik Association for Health Research, Riyadh 13326, Saudi Arabia
    College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
    Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh 13513, Saudi Arabia)

  • Saleh A. Alqahtani

    (Liver Transplant Unit, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
    Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA)

Abstract

Background: Weight stigma (WS) in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia, is widely ignored. People with obesity are blamed for their weight, and there is a common perception that weight stigmatization is justifiable and may motivate individuals to adopt healthier behaviors. The authors of this study aimed to explore WS prevalence and factors associated with WS in a large nationwide study of Saudi Arabian adults. Methods: This study was a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted via phone interviews in June 2020. A proportional quota-sampling technique was adopted to obtain equal distributions of participants by age and sex across the 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. In total, 6239 people were contacted, and 4709 (75.48%) responded and completed the interview. The authors of the study collected data about WS using the Arabic Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), BMI, smoking, nutritional knowledge, bariatric surgery, risk of depression, and demographic variables. Results: Participants had a mean age of 36.4 ± 13.5 (18–90), and 50.1% were female. The prevalence of higher WS was 46.4%. Among other risk factors, there was a significant association between WS and obesity (odds ratio (OR): 3.93; 95% CI: 2.83–5.44; p < 0.001), waterpipe smoking (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.20–2.69; p < 0.001), bariatric surgery (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.53–2.81; p < 0.001), and risk of depression (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.36–2.09; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This was the first study to explore WS and its associated factors among adults in a community setting in Saudi Arabia. This study revealed some risk factors associated with WS that may help to identify people at risk of WS and to develop interventions to reduce WS, such as improving nutritional knowledge, correcting the ideas about bariatric surgery and obesity in general, and ceasing waterpipe smoking.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora A. Althumiri & Mada H. Basyouni & Norah AlMousa & Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim & Adel A. Alhamdan & Faisal Saeed Al-Qahtani & Nasser F. BinDhim & Saleh A. Alqahtani, 2021. "Exploring Weight Stigma in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9141-:d:625283
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Puhl, R.M. & Heuer, C.A., 2010. "Obesity stigma: Important considerations for public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(6), pages 1019-1028.
    2. Nora A. Althumiri & Mada H. Basyouni & Norah AlMousa & Mohammed F. AlJuwaysim & Nasser F. BinDhim & Saleh A. Alqahtani, 2021. "Prevalence of Self-Reported Food Allergies and Their Association with Other Health Conditions among Adults in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mei Sun & Jiayuan Peng & Lisa Lommel, 2022. "Prevalence and Correlates of Weight Stigma among Postpartum Women in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.

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