Overweight and Obesity in Eastern Mediterranean Region: Prevalence and Possible Causes

Table 6

Prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) among adults in urban and rural areas in selected EMR countries.

Country	Date of survey	Sample size	Gender	% Overweight		% Obesity		Reference
				U*	R*	U	R
Egypt	1998-1999	1974	M	45.3	28.1	20.0	6.0	[58]
		2909	F	39.6	36.5	45.2	20.8
Iran	2004-2005	45082	M	35.3	25.9	12.4	8.1	[34]
		44322	F	34.2	29.2	27.1	19.8
Morocco	1998-1999	6878	M	24.1	17.0	4.7	3.8	[45]
		7153	F	31.1	25.8	19.1	11.1
Oman	2000	3076	M	31.5	28.2	17.0	11.4	[38]
		3367	F	27.3	27.2	25.1	14.7
Palestine (West Bank)	2003	387	M	—	—	30.6	18.1	[60]
		549	F	—	—	49.1	36.8
Saudi Arabia	1995–2000	8215/9008	M/F	36.9	36.9	39.7	27.0	[61]

*U: urban, R: rural.