Obesity is reported in 39.7 percent of Kuwait’s population over 18 years of age. The United States is just behind Kuwait with a rate of 38.5 percent. Obesity is diagnosed using a person’s Body Mass Index (BMI). A person’s height and weight ratio is used to determine whether a person is obese or not.
According to the World Health Organization, obesity is a major factor in many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Being overweight can lead to diabetes and related complications, including blindness, amputation, and the need for dialysis.
After Kuwait and the United States, Saudi Arabia has the third place in the world in terms of obesity. The obesity rate in Saudi Arabia is 37.6 percent. Jordan (37.4 percent), Qatar (37.1 percent), Egypt (34.3), Turkey (34.3), UAE (34), Lebanon (33.8), New Zealand (32.8), Iraq (32.3), and Canada (31.3) are the countries with the highest global obesity rates. Other countries in the top 12 at the level.
In terms of diabetes, the rate in Kuwait is 24.9 percent. Pakistan ranks first in this regard with 30.7 percent of the population having diabetes. Wisevoter.com noted that countries with high rates of diabetes are typically found in the Middle East, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands, and further study of this trend is needed. Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, genetic factors and high rate of obesity can all contribute to diabetes.
A report released by the International Diabetes Federation in November 2022 indicated that the rate of type 2 diabetes in Kuwait reached 25.5 percent among adults. If Kuwait does not take the necessary preventive measures, by 2035, 52 percent of the country’s adults will suffer from obesity, said Dr. Iba al-Uzairi had warned in March 2023. This has made Kuwait a very high-risk country, he said. The general assessment is that the Kuwaiti government has carried out extensive campaigns to control obesity and diabetes, but it has not helped to create large-scale changes.
Read Latest National News and Malayalam News
