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Some 60 per cent of the local Saudi population is overweight, according to a recent study. The majority of Saudi women in mid to upper social classes have maids who tend to take care of the majority of household responsibilities.

Some 60 per cent of the local Saudi population is overweight, according to a recent study. The majority of Saudi women in mid to upper social classes have maids who tend to take care of the majority of household responsibilities.

"Affluence, however, does not have any impact on BMI in Saudi Arabia, unlike other developing countries where people belonging to the lower social classes have malnutrition problems and are underweight," said the study cited by Khaleej Times newspaper. "Overall the Saudi population is overweight -- but do they consider themselves to be overweight?" the study asked and posed a question to describe their body weight in relation to the other people in the Saudi society at large.

Nearly 38 per cent of the population considered themselves to be lighter in weight than they actually were. In other words, more than half (57 per cent) of people, who are overweight/obese, considered themselves to be of lighter than the average weight. This could be interpreted in two ways -- either it could be self-denial or because overall Saudi society is on average overweight, it could be that in contrast to the rest of society they perceive themselves to be fitter than they actually are.

The growing number of obese Saudis has alarmed Saudi health experts. According to the Ministry of Health, 51 per cent of Saudi women and 45 per cent of Saudi men are obese. Dr Khaled Al Marghalani, the Ministry of Health spokesman, said that American fast food, the change in Saudis' diet pattern along with long hours spent in front of the TV and play-stations were all contributing to the rise of obesity among the Saudi young generation.