Authors: Abdulmalik Alomayyer , Sarah Marie , Jory Alawwad , Munirah Alshammari , Ragheed Justanieah , Zeyad Alyousef ,

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a major global health issue, with a prevalence of 33.7% in Saudi Arabia. Medical students must be adequately prepared to manage obesity, including both lifestyle changes and bariatric surgery. However, inconsistencies in medical education and limited exposure to obesity management may affect their competency. This study assessed medical students’ knowledge and attitudes towards obesity in Saudi Arabia, focusing on differences between junior- and senior-year students and their views on bariatric surgery.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 225 medical students from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Hail using a validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed in RStudio (version 4.3.1). Categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages. Group comparisons were made using Fisher’s exact test or Pearson’s chi-square test. The Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess factors affecting knowledge scores. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Among respondents, 77.8% were female, and 74.7% were sixth-year students. Riyadh students had significantly higher knowledge scores than those in Jeddah and Hail (median = 8.00; p = 0.010). Senior students demonstrated better knowledge of diagnostic criteria and surgical complications (p < 0.05). Male students more frequently recommended appropriate physical activity (p = 0.008). Time constraints during clinical rotations were reported by 40.4% as a barrier to effective obesity management.
Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding obesity among Saudi medical students vary by academic level and region. These findings highlight the need for more standardized and comprehensive obesity education across medical schools.

Keywords: Obesity, medical students, management.