The rapidly increasing obesity prevalence rates in Saudi Arabia can be attributed to several factors based on this study the major one being lifestyle. Lifestyle is identified in Saudi Arabia as the major contributor of obesity condition between children aged 14-18 years. Indeed, the strong economy of the country is identified in this research as one of the compounding factors that aggravate the high prevalence rates of obesity in the country. This is because the discovery of oil deposits within the country especially in the Eastern region has meant more generated revenues to the country which translates to more citizens being economically empowered and more purchasing power. As a result, children are the most prone to suffer from obese conditions; as the research findings indicate many families have changed their lifestyles and adopted the fast-food lifestyle that is rapidly a culture in Saudi Arabia (see appendixes (5 & 6).
In regard to lifestyle, poor choice of diet is the leading factor; it is regrettable that due to the affordability of food among many families in Saudi Arabia poor eating habits are the result instead of healthy eating. This transition towards worsened unhealthy food intake is attributed to the fact that the role of food in Saudi Arabia has gradually changed from being merely a source of nourishment to more of status, pleasure, and now a lifestyle.
The current health intervention strategies have so far proven ineffective because of their limitation. This is because the government approaches in trying to reduce the high obesity prevalence rate have unfortunately focused on curative rather than prevention as should be the case. By failing to address the root causes of the health challenges facing the majority of the people in the country, the government can only hope to manage the situation rather than prevent it.
It is based on this inefficacy of the current health intervention strategies in tackling obesity in Saudi Arabia that this study recommends a three-prong edged approach in addressing the obesity challenge; implementation of behavior change, medical strategies, and socio-environment factors (Sidiga & Maha, 2010).
Therefore, health professionals must change people’s cultural beliefs such as the belief that sports playing by girls is taboo as it will break their hymen. This will encourage their participation in physical activities. Indeed, a recent research study by Musaiger et al (2000) shows that “the rate of obesity is higher among women who eat less than three meals every day than those who eat heavy meals at times (three meals or more)”.