The etiology of childhood obesity is growing at alarming rates in developed and developing countries. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia) in a sample of Saudi children and to assess their association with different measures of body adiposity.

A cross-sectional study was conducted of 200 Saudi children, who were randomly selected from the pediatric clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Anthropometric variables were measured for all study subjects. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profile.

Almost half of the study population was overweight and one tenth was obese according to body mass index levels, irrespective of sex. The prevalence of central obesity was higher using the waist-height ratio as opposed to waist circumference and this was true for both sexes. Significantly higher means levels of glucose, insulin, and lipids (P<0.0001 in all) were seen among overweight and obese children than their lean counterparts. All obesity measures in children were significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors.

The severity of overall and abdominal obesity in Saudi children is associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, with the relationship strength varying by sex.