RIYADH: Parents should be mindful at all times of the food that they give to their children, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has said as it emphasized the critical role of families in safeguarding children's health.
In a statement carried on the occasion of World Obesity Day on March 4, the SFDA urged parents "to encourage children to replace sugary drinks, such as soft drinks, with water and natural fruit juices."
Families should also "significantly reduce fast-food consumption, a key contributor to weight gain and related health issues," said the statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA.
SFDA further advocated healthier cooking methods, such as grilling and roasting, over frying.
"Recognizing the alarming global rise in obesity rates, the authority emphasizes the necessity of higher community awareness to address this growing challenge.
Obesity is a complex disease that has reached pandemic proportions worldwide, tripling in prevalence since 1975. This surge is widely attributed to the adoption of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.
In response to the health and social implications of the obesity problem, the Saudi government has implemented a wide range of policies under its Vision 2030 plan, aiming to create a healthier population and improve quality of life.
A study published in 2022 by the Global Obesity Observatory revealed that approximately 60 percent of Saudi Arabia’s adult population is overweight, with 20 percent classified as obese.
Among children, 10.5 percent are overweight and 4.1 percent are obese. Recent data from the Kingdom’s leading health bodies indicate an increase in childhood obesity, while the number of obese adults has decreased compared to a decade ago.
