Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidities of overweight and obesity among adults in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 Stepwise Survey.

Objectives

This study examines the prevalence and risk factors associated with overweight and obesity among adults aged 18-69 years in the Qatar population as insights from the 2023 Stepwise Survey.

Setting

A cross-sectional study using data from a nationally representative population-based 2023 Qatar Stepwise Survey conducted from May to December 2023 in households covering the eight municipalities of Qatar.

Participants

A total of 5696 male and female Qatari nationals and non-Qatari long-term residents aged 18-69 years from all municipalities of Qatar. Survey participants with nonresponse or missing data on body mass index (BMI) were excluded from the analysis. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 18-69 years in Qatar, classified according to WHO BMI cut-offs (overweight: 25-29.9 kg/m²; obesity: ≥30 kg/m²). Identification of risk factors associated with BMI categories, including sociodemographics, family history of chronic diseases, lifestyle and habitual factors, diet, physical activity and lipid profile, was analysed using the χ² test, analysis of variance and multinomial logistic regression to investigate the statistical significance of associations between risk factors and BMI categories.

Results

From a total of 5696 eligible participants (52.9% men and 47.1% women, 43% Qatari and 57% non-Qatari), 20.5% had normal weight, 36.4% had overweight and 37.8% had obesity. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher than the population average among women (38.2%), participants aged ≥45 years (44%), Qataris (40.3%), separated/divorced/widowed people (53.3%), participants with low education (46.8%), government employees (36.6%) or unemployed individuals (38.9%). Overweight was more prevalent among men (41.1%), non-Qatari (40.9%), married people (40%), those with higher education (41.8%) and among self-employed individuals (43.4%). Significant correlates of overweight/obesity were being female (adjusted relative risk ratio, aRRR=1.61; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.50; p=0.031), having a family history of obesity (aRRR=2.17; 95% CI 1.32 to 3.7; p=0.004), higher heart rate (aRRR=1.02; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.04; p=0.008), wider waist circumference (aRRR=1.06; 95% CI 1.05 to 01.07; p<0.001), increased triglyceride levels (aRRR=1.40; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.94; p=0.039) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (aRRR=0.37; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.72; p=0.003).

Conclusions

The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was high in the Qatar population (74.2%). Family history of obesity and low HDL cholesterol showed the strongest associations with an increased likelihood of obesity among the surveyed individuals. The findings support a primary care-led approach to obesity prevention in Qatar, prioritising middle-aged adults, women and individuals with cardiometabolic conditions, consistent with national NonCommunicable Disease priorities.