THE EXTENT OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND THE SCOPE OF SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH PROMOTION INTERVENTIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a concerning trend and represents one of the most significant challenges to public health worldwide. Childhood obesity in Saudi Arabia has become a significant concern for scholars and healthcare professionals. An extensive amount of research has been conducted to identify the most effective interventions to prevent childhood obesity in light of its prevalence, health consequences, and associated costs. Studies indicate that identifying and addressing obesity-related behaviours can be valuable for developing and implementing effective interventions and prevention measures to mitigate childhood obesity in Saudi Arabia. It has been shown that obesity-related behaviours can be changed through school-based health promotion interventions. Therefore, the present review summarises the current evidence on childhood obesity, including its prevalence, health consequences, and obesity-related behaviours in children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia. In addition, it aimed to determine the scope of school-based health promotion efforts in Saudi schools to reduce childhood obesity. Keywords: Childhood Obesity, Overweight, Children, Adolescence, Health Promotion, School, Saudi Arabia