37% of children obese

MAKKAH: Rising incidence of obesity among Saudi children has sparked concern among specialists as well as parents in the Kingdom.
More than 1.5 million or 37 percent children in the Kingdom are obese, the experts said, calling for a comprehensive plan to fight the condition.
Doctors Samira Hussein Al-Jabali and Rawan Nabih Rakkah, who are specialized in nutrition in Hiraa’ general hospital in Makkah, said that around five out of 10 children display obesity symptoms, and the community should be warned about the dangers of this condition.
“Educational campaigns should be carried out in hospitals, schools, universities, shopping malls and through social media,” they said.
Parents Omar Bakhader, Ahmad Blu and Hassan Ali said fighting obesity in children needs combined efforts of the families, schools, universities and colleges. They said media should also be roped in to highlight the dangers associated with obesity.
Mothers Hanan Betar, Ameena Barnawi and Yasmin Ahmed said the level of awareness toward children’s obesity is quite high.