Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidities of overweight and obesity among adults in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 Stepwise Survey
- 1NCD Prevention Programs, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Ad Dawhah, Qatar
- 2Qatar Metabolic Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- 3Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
Abstract
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.
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BibTeX
@article{althani2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidities of overweight and obesity among adults in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 Stepwise Survey}},
author = {Mohamed Hamad Al-Thani and Alma Malvar Loares and Rehana Nasir Nawaz and Suresh Babu Kokku and Amit Mishra and Syed Muneer Husain Jaffery and Lama Malas and Ioanna Skaroni and Abdul Badi Abou-Samra},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110307},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110307},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidities of overweight and obesity among adults in Qatar: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 Stepwise Survey
AU - Mohamed Hamad Al-Thani
AU - Alma Malvar Loares
AU - Rehana Nasir Nawaz
AU - Suresh Babu Kokku
AU - Amit Mishra
AU - Syed Muneer Husain Jaffery
AU - Lama Malas
AU - Ioanna Skaroni
AU - Abdul Badi Abou-Samra
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110307
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-110307
AB - 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.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -