According to a Saudi health expert, 60 percent of adults in Saudi Arabia are overweight or obese.

In Saudi Arabia, three out of five adults are overweight or obese, according to a World Bank report issued in coordination with the Saudi Health Council after a 10-year study.

“These indicators and figures are worrying and very high,” he was quoted as telling Saudi television Al Ekhbariya.

As he pointed out, obesity and overweight lead to other diseases and have a negative impact on the economy and health. “Obesity depletes health services,” he said.

According to Dr Al Qahtani, the economic costs of obesity in the kingdom reached SR72 billion in 2019, accounting for 38 percent of allocations for health and social development in 2023.

Health awareness specialist blamed obesity on unhealthy lifestyles, including high-calorie diets.

Physical inactivity, long-term use of social media and television screens, and a low intake of fruits and vegetables are also contributing factors.

“The consumption of vegetables and fruits in Saudi society is declining sharply,” he told Saudi news portal Sabq.

According to the expert, the kingdom, which has a population of 33.2 million, needs to develop strategies and unconventional awareness programs to address obesity.

Recent census results show that Saudi Arabia's population is dominated by young people under 30 years of age, making up 51.1% of the total population.