%0 Journal Article %A Sulaiman, Nabil %A Elbadawi, Salah %A Hussein, Amal %A Abusnana, Salah %A Madani, Abdulrazzag %A Mairghani, Maisoon %A Alawadi, Fatheya %A Sulaiman, Ahmad %A Zimmet, Paul %A Huse, Oliver %A Shaw, Jonathan %A Peeters, Anna %D 2019 %T Prevalence of overweight and obesity in United Arab Emirates Expatriates: the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study. %U https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/Prevalence_of_overweight_and_obesity_in_United_Arab_Emirates_Expatriates_the_UAE_National_Diabetes_and_Lifestyle_Study_/10797158 %2 https://repository.rcsi.com/ndownloader/files/19308878 %K Adults %K Expatriates %K Obesity %K Overweight %K Prevalence %K United Arab Emirates. %K Nursing not elsewhere classified %X

Objective: To describe current prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: We used data from the cross-sectional UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB), which surveyed adult expatriates living in the UAE for at least 4 years. We report crude prevalence of overweight and obesity, indicated by gender and ethnicity-specific body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) cut-offs, by lifestyle and biomedical characteristics, as well as age and sex-adjusted odds ratios.

Results: Out of a total of 3064 recruited expatriates (response rate 68%), 2724 had completed all stages of the UAEDIAB study. Expatriates were; 81% men, mean age 38 years (range 18-80), 71% South East Asians, and 36% university graduates. In this sample, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, by BMI, were 43.0 and 32.3%, respectively. 52.4 and 56.5% of participants were at a substantially increased risk according to WC and WHR, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were 15.5, 31.8, and 51.7%, respectively, with the prevalence of each being higher in those with obesity.

Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity and associated NCDs are extremely high in UAE expatriates. Without comprehensive prevention and management, levels of disease will continue to increase and productivity will fall.

%I Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland