Perception of obesity among adults as health-related priority in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey among Riyadh primary healthcare centers attendees

OBJECTIVE: To explore perception of obesity as a health priority among primary healthcare attendees in Riyadh. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and July 2023. SITE: Forty-eight randomly selected primary health care (PHC) centers in Riyadh. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 14,239 adults were recruited through multistage cluster sampling and administered an electronic questionnaire. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the participants' perception of obesity as a health priority (Yes/No). Independent variables included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education), behavioral factors (smoking, activity, diet), and clinical history (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease). RESULTS: Obesity was perceived as a significant public health issue within their communities by 71.7% (n=10,207) of the respondents. Multivariable logistic regression showed that age ≥50 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.27; 95% CI: 1.15-1.39, P<.001), male gender (AOR 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06-1.23, P=.001), and no health insurance coverage (AOR 1.21; 95% CI: 1.12-1.32, P<.001) predicted greater prioritization of obesity. Clinically, diabetes (AOR 1.23, P=.006), hypercholesterolemia (AOR 1.31, P=.003), and heart disease (AOR 1.38, P=.02) were significant independent predictors. CONCLUSION: Although there is significant community awareness about obesity, perception is strongly dependent on age, gender, and the presence or absence of symptomatic co-morbidities. Therefore, public health campaigns need to capitalize on this established awareness to promote behavior modification, especially among young and insured individuals who often overlook obesity as serious medical condition.