Question

Explain a diet related health problem the commonly affects people in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia? 

Answer 1

Dietary health problem are the most important risk factor globally and particularly in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Over nutrition has been a problem among middle and upper class of urban society in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is mainly due to socioeconomic development, dietary habits and environmental conditions. It causes obesity. The prevalence of obesity and overweight are highest in Saudi Arabia especially in urban area. This possibly due to consumption of high fat diet and more sedentary lifestyle.

The main factor associated with obesity include diet pattern, eating habits, genetic factors and physical inactivity. Obesity is due to poor diet, which includes high sugar intake, fast foods, soft drinks and low intake of fruits and vegetables. The major consequence if obesity are cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer etc.  

Cardiovascular disease is major public health problem in Saudi Arabia. The dietary pattern of Saudis may play role in increasing risk if cardiovascular disease. Cardiac and vascular diseases might be associated with increased consumption of artificial sugars cholesterol, unsaturated fat, potassium and sodium salt derivatives through food and other beverages. High-density lipids are essential for heart function. However, the modern diet mostly contains low-density lipids that causes clots in blood vessels. Low-density lipoproteins lead to atherosclerosis, which is an underlying cause for heart attack and stroke.

Healthy diet is important to regulate blood sugar level and poor diet leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Usage of junk foods is common at present in Saudi and junk foods are generally have high calories and more unsaturated fats and low in nutrients. Inappropriate intake of carbohydrates and cholesterol affect insulin production and function that leads to diabetes. Prevalence of diabetes is also high in Saudi, it is also due to consumption of fast food contribute obesity along with sedentary life leads diabetes. In addition, regular use of junk foods causes high blood pressure, tachycardia and increased triglycerides also affects renal function.

Poor diet also cause tiredness, stress, bone weakness, memory impairment, oral disorders and gastrointestinal problems such as heartburn, ulcer and other intestinal diseases. The prevalence of other health problem related to poor dietary pattern such as cancer etc.

Cancer is common threat and challenging health care world. Diet plays major role in maintaining healthy immune system. Present food habits especially less anti-oxidants intake affects immune system and cause autoimmune disorders and carcinomas. Unhealthy diet such as processed meat and artificial sweetener are high risk factor for cancer and failure of early diagnosis or detection lead to death. Gastric cancer is one of the major problem due to change and accept western nutritional pattern from traditional diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are highly associated with poor diet without nutrients. Breast cancer is another major problem as the intake of fat is high. Many studies suggested there is a positive association risk of breast cancer and intake if fat, protein and calories.

There is an awareness program is essential to prevent the health problem related to diet. It also improve dietary behavior to reduce current and future burden of disease in Saudi Arabia.

Answer 2

Answer:

Obesity is a major diet related health problem that commonly affects people in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Research studies revealed that the rate of obesity is significantly high in Saudia Arabia. Various factors leads to obesity which include lack of physical activity, dietary pattern, occupation,family history, genetic factors, marital status. When compared to the rural areas, people in urban areas are more prevalent to obesity. It also associated with the socioeconomic status of the population. According to the research study 39% of adults in Saudi are overweight and 14% are obese and it more common females than males. In many areas, high calorie diet and physical inactivity increased the risk of obesity and it became major concern in the gulf countries. Obesity will resulted in other major health problems like cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia etc. To control and manage obesity and other related health problems, better understanding of relationships between dietary pattern and obesity is needed.

Answer 3

In almost all the Arabi country there are various diet related health problems. Some of these problems are:

- obesity

- malnutrition

- heart disease

- diabetes and

- cancer

It is very common to have one or the other non communicable diet related health probls in these people of Arab countries. In most of the Arabic countries the children are suffering from the malnutrition be it macro nutrients or micro nutrient. It is mainly causing due to unhealthy lifestyle of these people and the children. The major cause of this problem is because of many reasons such as low birth weight, deficiency in iron, iodine, vitamin A and D. The main reason for the low birth weight has been given as female sex, low socioeconomic status, older mother and smaller interval between pregnancies, gestational iron deficiency anaemia.

The cause of undernutrition in these rich or high earning countries might be the unhealthy dietary habits and the lack of nutritional awareness.

Answer 4

non communicable diseases are on rise in saudi arabia despite free access to health services and well preventive health care facilities. Most of the health related issues are related to faulty dietary patterns. Anemia and mild to moderate degree of stunting is reported in preschool children as there is lack of knowledge about healthy eating pattern among females mainly.

overnutrition among middle class and upper class groups as the intake of processed food, fast food is quite prevalent among them . Due to this, obesity is common among arabian population. Obesity is the leading cause of many lifestyle diseases among them including diabetes mellitus, Hypertension and hypercholestrolemia.

therefore lack of knowledge about healthy diet causing a surge in emergence of many non communicable diseases.