Awareness of Indications and Complications of Sleeve Gastrectomy among Obese and Overweight People in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: Obesity is a significant worldwide health issue hindering individuals’ daily activities and raising the risk of numerous illnesses that can lead to serious complications. However, research studies have shown that sleeve gastrectomy (SG) can have a considerable impact on improving comorbidities and is the most effective treatment for obesity. Therefore, our current study targeted obese and overweight people in Saudi Arabia to assess their awareness of the indications and complications of SG. Methods: A digital cross-sectional survey was distributed in December 2022 among a general population in Saudi Arabia via social media channels. Results: A total of 902 eligible participants were enrolled in the study. Their mean age was 31.5 years, and the majority of participants were female 505 (56%). Meanwhile, 557 (61.8%) participants had a university degree. Regarding body mass index, 505 (56%) were obese, while the remaining were over¬weight. Of the participants, 882 (97.8%) have heard about SG. Moreover, 60.6% believed that they understood the indications of SG, while 573 (63.5%) believed that they understood the complications of SG. A total of 420 (46.6%) participants had overall good awareness levels, while 482 (53.4%) had poor awareness levels regarding SG. Conclusions: Our study findings showed that almost half of the participants were well informed regarding the indications and complications of SG. Moreover, participants with post-graduate degrees exhibited good levels of awareness compared to those with only a secondary level of education. Nevertheless, the establishment of health-related educational activities to promote general awareness of SG is recommended.