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PUBLIC AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS BARIATRIC SURGERY AMONG COMMUNITY IN SAUDI ARABIA

Fahad Ahmed Saad AlRashed, Mohammed Jawad Bosaleh, Maissa Sameer Alkabli, Angham Tarik Ashi, Khaled Abdullah Alshareef, Rana Mohamed Ahmad, Lujain Hani Abulola, Talah Ahmed Alhrkan, Yam Omar Ismaiel

Background: High prevalence of obesity was reported in Saudi Arabia since decades. Bariatric surgery is considered as the most common effective and permanent method for treatment of obesity and decreasing the longterm mortality and morbidity worldwide. In addition, bariatric surgery is one of the most common elective gastrointestinal procedure done nowadays. Objectives: To evaluate the level of awareness and attitude towards bariatric surgery among Saudis. Methods: A questionnaire based on cross-sectional study self-administrator was distributed among 450 Saudi participants between the periods November 2018- December 2018. The questionnaire was based on 3 aspects including subject’s demographics, perception about obesity and knowledge about Bariatric surgery. Results: Overweight and obesity were found to be high among Saudi population. The most common causes for obesity were bad life style habits and genetic factors. There was a good knowledge about obesity but moderate knowledge about bariatric surgery as majority of participants believe that lack of physical activities is a risk factor for obesity (63.8%) and Majority of participants chose that bad life style habits could cause obesity (71.1%). Conclusion: The knowledge of participants regarding the obesity and its risk factors were high but the knowledge about Bariatric surgeries were low-moderate. These results indicated that efficient public awareness campaigns about obesity and Bariatric surgeries are needed to fill the gap and to increase the level of awareness toward obesity and its complications. Keywords: Obesity, awareness, perception, Bariatric Surgery, KSA, Saudi Arabia

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