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Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World pp 1–26Cite as

A Perspective on Female Obesity and Body Image in Middle Eastern Countries

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Abstract

Obesity has become a serious health problem particularly in Middle Eastern countries because of the recent rapid changes in lifestyles of the populations. The various methods for measuring body mass and body composition are explained, and the prevalence of obesity among females in different countries of the region is detailed. This chapter outlines the many factors that have contributed to the rise in obesity, and it shows that there is not one single cause; rather, there is an interplay between genetic and environmental factors and personal behaviors. The consequences are discussed, with particular emphasis on serious life-threatening conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Sciences (Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences), University of Plymouth , Plymouth, UK

    Rabab B Alkutbe

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  1. Rabab B Alkutbe
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Correspondence to Rabab B Alkutbe .

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  1. Dept. Pharmacology Therapeutics, University of British Colombia Dept. Pharmacology Therapeutics, VANCOUVER, BC, Canada

    Ismail Laher

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  1. Health Promotion, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Jutland, Denmark

    Anastasia Samara

  2. Faculty of Health Science, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden

    Atika Khalaf

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B Alkutbe, R. (2020). A Perspective on Female Obesity and Body Image in Middle Eastern Countries. In: Laher, I. (eds) Handbook of Healthcare in the Arab World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74365-3_38-1

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