11.17 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Obesity kills 20,000 people a year in Saudi

Published
By Staff

Obesity kills an average 20,000 people every year in Saudi Arabia, where nearly 70 per cent of the population are suffering from overweight, a Saudi medical expert has said.

Although Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, spends in excess of SR19 billion ($5.1 billion) a year on treatment of diseases related to fatness, more than three million children in the Gulf Kingdom are suffering from obesity.

“Obesity kills an average 20,000 people in Saudi Arabia,” Dr Ayed Al Qahtani, a government specialist, told a medical conference in Riyadh, according to local newspapers.

“Latest statistics showed that nearly 70 per cent of the Kingdom’s population are suffering from fatness, which shortens the presumed human life by an average 20 years.”