Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Gahtani Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette The statistics on the rates of obesity in the Kingdom are staggering and quite distressing, especially because extensive research and numerous studies have drawn a relationship between obesity and the incidence of heart and cardiovascular diseases. In a 14-year study published by the American Heart Association, middle-aged women were at risk by 50 percent, whereas obese men aged between 40 to 65 were at risk by 72 percent. The Charitable Society for Health Communication (Hayatona) recently announced that 42 percent of all mortality cases in the Kingdom are attributed to disorders of the heart and blood vessels, according to a report by the World Health Organization for 2011. Worldwide, one out of every three women dies as a result of heart disease, the report stated.
Serious measures must be taken on governmental, community, and individual levels to reduce the incidence of heart disease in Saudi society. Hayatona called on governmental bodies to implement policies that will discourage consumption of foods high in fats and sugar by the general public because these foods are among the major culprits that cause obesity, atherosclerosis, and heart diseases. “Factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease include lack of physical activity, consuming a diet high in fat, salt, and calories, smoking, and low intake of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, around 80 percent of people in Saudi society do not even eat the minimum requirements of fresh fruits and vegetables. Approximately 36 percent of adults in the Kingdom are obese, while 60 percent are overweight,” said Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Gahtani, General Secretary of Hayatona. Al-Gahtani told Saudi Gazette: “Health care in the Kingdom should focus more on preventive measures and early detection of warning signals that could develop into full blown heart disease in the patient's future. For example, a patient diagnosed with high blood cholesterol levels or high blood pressure should receive adequate counseling and education on healthy lifestyle practices, such as diet, exercise, and taking medications regularly to keep the blood cholesterol levels under control and avoid worsening of the condition that could lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and even death.” “In addition to medications prescribed by the physician, individuals with high cholesterol levels should be keen on eating more fruits and vegetables, especially the dark green leafy vegetables, such as watercress, spinach, and others,” added Al-Gahtani.
Cooperation of a number of segments of society is needed to spread more awareness and health education across the Kingdom's schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and health care centers, festivals, and malls. “Taxes have been successfully imposed in other countries on foods that have no nutrient value but are high in calories and damaging to the society's health. For example, with every purchase of soft drinks, doughnuts, or the typical burger and fries meal that are laden in unhealthy fats, a small tax should be drawn from the consumer. The authority responsible for extricating the taxes on junk food items could be either the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. “The taxes collected will be poured into public health awareness campaigns that aim to protect the health of members of the society and empower them to look after their own health,” said Al-Gahtani.
