DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i05.036

Pages: 568-577

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern in Saudi Arabia, driven by shifting dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, and limited parental awareness. Parents play a central role in shaping children's dietary and physical activity habits, yet many fails to accurately recognize excess weight in their children, delaying early intervention. Objectives: This study aimed to assess parental awareness and perceptions of childhood obesity in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 384 parents of children aged 6 to 17 years in Al-Ahsa, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, between August 2025 and May 2026. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered, bilingual questionnaire distributed electronically via Google Forms. The questionnaire covered parental sociodemographics, child anthropometric data, parental weight perception, dietary and physical activity behaviors, obesity-related awareness, and willingness to change lifestyle. Results: About 40% of children were classified as overweight or obese. Many parents misperceived their child’s weight as normal despite BMI findings, and overall concern about child weight was generally low. Higher parental awareness of obesity-related health risks was significantly associated with older age and higher educational level (p = 0.001), but not with the child’s BMI status. Key independent predictors of childhood overweight and obesity included frequent sugary drink consumption (OR = 25.33), inadequate fruit intake (OR = 18.10), limited physical activity (OR = 4.25), excessive screen time (OR = 5.57), and inadequate vegetable intake (OR = 4.27). Conversely, access to safe play areas reduced the likelihood of overweight and obesity by nearly half (OR = 0.52). Conclusion: Childhood overweight and obesity are highly prevalent in Al-Ahsa, with dietary habits, physical inactivity, screen time, and parental educational level as the strongest predictors. Parental weight