Saudi society is being smothered by flab. Statistics about the true horror of the growing fat problem in the Kingdom are hard to come by, which is why the findings of a landmark research study by Neil Evans and Harry De Roo, faculty members in the Physical Education Department at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), are so timely. The survey collected data from nearly 1,000 students enrolled in the Orientation Physical Education Program at KFUPM. These were Saudi males, mostly between 18 and 20 years of age.
The study’s findings were shocking. Based on body mass index (BMI), 18.4 percent of the students were overweight and 17 percent of the students were obese. Muscle Endurance Tests results were catastrophic. In a Timed Push-Up Test, 39.9 percent of the students scored “poor” and 37.9 percent scored “fair.” In a Timed Sit-Up Test, 53 percent of the students scored “poor” and 24.8 percent scored “fair.”
The report also found that despite the high levels of overweight and obesity in the group, most students were malnourished, with diets high in fat and sugar. The majority did not eat breakfast. The diets of a significant number of students lacked the required vitamin and mineral intake from fruit and vegetables. Calcium intake was also insufficient. Few students indulged in regular exercise.
“It’s necessary to emphasize that Saudi Arabia is not alone in struggling with issues related to overweight and obesity in society. What is essential to remember though is that Saudi Arabia has a very young population. When our research showed that 35 percent of our Orientation Year students are either overweight or obese, this became a big concern. From my point of view this is going to have a substantial impact on the society in areas such as long term productivity and health costs,” asserted De Roo.
“I agree with what Harry has said,” added Evans. “I don’t see the point in the government and companies investing huge amounts of capital if they are going to let go of their most important resource — human capital. How will companies employ people who will pass away in their 40s, just when these people are supposed to be at their most productive? The poor fitness levels revealed by our research are a predictor of the early onset of potentially catastrophic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.”
While the study didn’t estimate the economic effect on society of losing so many valuable human resources decades too early, it’s certain to be a serious drain. It will be necessary as well, to educate and train new resources to fill the positions of those who are exiting the job market too soon, which will tack on millions more. And what about the seriously disabled or missing fathers and husbands? Perhaps the economic consequences of their illnesses or deaths can be calculated, but how will the social and emotional costs be quantified?
De Roo and Evans are working urgently to bring notice to the results of their research because they believe many of the fitness issues present in young Saudi males are actually consequences either of behavior learned in childhood or skill development neglected during the school years.
“We are getting students at the university level that lack basic coordination skills,” said De Roo. “Hand-eye coordination skills are not developed. Diet and nutrition information isn’t imparted. It is much easier to develop good habits at a young age then for students who are 19 or 20 years old to unlearn unhealthy behaviors.”
Schools not teaching basic physical skills and health information at an early age is bad enough, but Evans was extremely curious how such a wealthy society could be so deficient in public sport and recreation facilities.
“I come from Australia and we have so many facilities where kids can go out and play in their leisure time. In Saudi Arabia, except for the dirt football pitches, there’s really no opportunity for most children to be active unless they have the resources at home,” he remarked. “Clearly it is essential that the health and fitness needs of youth be addressed at school but our study shows that obviously the physical education programs in the schools are not delivering what they should.”
