Background: Obesity is a public health problem and its prevalence is escalating in the recent years in Saudi Arabia. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for the morbidly obese.
Aim of the Work: The aim of this studywas to examine community health beliefs regarding obesity and bariatric surgery, and to evaluate the potential associations between demographic characteristics and agreement to bariatric surgery.
Material and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to adult citizens of Riyadh city. The questionnaire included questions about obesity, its causes, lifestyle, and beliefs about the effectiveness of bariatric surgery and its complications.
Results:27.6% of respondents were overweight and 33.6% were obese. The overweight/obese respondents were significantly inclined to be in the older age groups, married, and have high income and a family history of obesity. Most respondents showed good knowledge about obesity, its risk factors, and healthy life style, and they recognized the efficacy of bariatric surgery in reducing weight. However, more than half of the respondents doubted its safety and only 16.2% believed it to be the best choice. Male subjects - who were in older age groups, had a secondary school education and a body mass index above normal range - were more likely to regard surgery as the best choice for weight loss.
Conclusion: Most of respondents overestimated the risks of bariatric surgery and did not consider it as the best choice for weight loss. Health education is recommended to address these misconceptions and convince the public of its relative safety and the expected health benefits.