"This step is part of a national plan to curb obesity, which kills about 20,000 men and women in Saudi Arabia every year," he added.
Al-Tuwaim estimated the ratio of obesity among young Saudi men and women to be around 36 percent, but said this rate rises to over 50 percent when overweight people are take into account.
He said one of the main causes of obesity is junk food, especially considering the popularity of fast-food restaurants all over the Kingdom. "Many of these restaurants keep boiling the same oil over and over again and use it to cook more food," he said. Al-Tuwaim said the campaign started with a message sent Monday to a number of officials, supervisory bodies and traders urging them to play their part to cut obesity.
He explained that the society would oblige all restaurants and cafeterias to indicate the number of calories for all food and drink served to improve consumer awareness.
"A traffic light system indicating the number of calories and protein, fat and carbohydrate levels should be included in all menus," he said.
Al-Tuwaim warned that various kinds of punishments would be applied to unresponsive restaurants and cafeterias, including a boycott. He said those that do respond would be given the society's trust mark certificate.
He said for repeated violations the supervisory bodies would impose harsher punishments.
