Journal Article

Alarming predictions for obesity and non-communicable diseases in the Middle East

Aitsi-Selmi, Amina, Rtveladze, Ketevan, Brown, Martin, Musaigner, Abdulrahman, Kilpi, Fanny, Webber, Laura, McPherson, Klim, Marsh, Tim

2014

Overview

The present study aimed to model obesity trends and future obesity-related disease for nine countries in the Middle East; in addition, to explore how hypothetical reductions in population obesity levels could ameliorate anticipated disease burdens. A regression analysis of cross-sectional data v. BMI showed age- and sex-specific BMI trends, which fed into a micro simulation with a million Monte Carlo trials for each country. We also examined two alternative scenarios where population BMI was reduced by 1 % and 5 %. Statistical modelling of obesity trends was carried out in nine Middle East countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). BMI data along with disease incidence, mortality and survival data from national and sub-national data sets were used for the modelling process. High rates of overweight and obesity increased in both men and women in most countries. The burden of incident type 2 diabetes, CHD and stroke would be moderated with even small reductions in obesity levels. Obesity is a growing problem in the Middle East which requires government action on the primary prevention of obesity. The present results are important for policy makers to know the effectiveness of obesity interventions on future disease burden.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding / Bahrain / Biological and medical sciences / Body Mass Index / burden of disease / cross-sectional studies / data collection / Developing countries / Disease / disease incidence / Egypt / Environment. Living conditions / Epidemiology / Female / GDP / Gross Domestic Product / Humans / Industrialized nations / Iran / issues and policy / Jordan / Kuwait / LDCs / Lebanon / Male / Medical sciences / men / Metabolic diseases / Middle Aged / Middle East / Middle East - epidemiology / Models, Biological / Mortality / noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus / Obesity / Obesity - epidemiology / obesity-related diseases / Oman / Overweight / prediction / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Regression Analysis / Saudi Arabia / Search strategies / Statistical models / stroke / Subsidies / Trends / Turkey (country) / women / Womens health / Young Adult