Abstract
The problem of obesity in Bahrain was examined in three different studies. In the first study, demographic and social factors related to obesity were studied in 290 subjects (153 females and 137 males) from urban and rural areas. The prevalence of obesity, defined as BMI ≥ 30, was found to be 16 % for the males and 31 % for the females, while the prevalence of overweight (BMI 25-25. 9) was 26 % and 29 % respectively. Factors significantly associated with obesity in this study included large family size, unemployment and urban environment. Overall the prevalence of obesity was found to be higher in Bahrain than in western countries, especially among women. Bahraini women also had greater fat deposition in the subscapular region than the amount reported for American women, which might be attributed to racial in addition to social factors. Although the percentage of obese individuals was higher, there were some adults (16.8 % of males and 11.8 % of females) who were underweight or possibly malnourished (BMI ≤ 20). A second study was made of 107 Bahraini children with one or both parents who were obese or overweight (62 families) according to their BMI ( ≥ 85th percentile ), 21.7 % of the children were found to be overweight or obese; 14.2 % could be classified as obese or overweight according to their triceps skinfold thickness ( ≥ 85th percentile ) and 31. 1% according to their subscapular skinfold thickness ( ≥ 85th percentile ). Obesity in the children as judged by BMI was correlated more with the father's than the mother's BMI. However, energy intakes of these children were found to be correlated with the mother's BMI. Regardless of their mother's fat status, some children may have had a form of undemutrition, as assessed by their parents reporting of their energy intake. A third clinical study on 40 selected females found no significant distinction in blood glucose/mmol/L level between females of an obese group and those of a normal weight group. However, all lipid metabolism parameters measured (cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL level) were elevated in the obese group. HDL level and HDL/LDL ratios were significantly lower in the obese group than in the average weight group.