Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight in the Maghreb Region: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES: Obesity and overweight constitute a significant public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Maghreb countries.

METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults. All scientific literature published until May 25, 2024, was taken into account. The databases consulted include PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The meta-analysis was conducted using the "Metafor" function from the "Meta" package version 4.14-0 of the R 4.2.1 software for Windows.

RESULTS: In total, 12 studies were selected. The combined prevalence of obesity was 23% and that of overweight was 33%, both determined by a random effects model. The meta-analysis revealed significant heterogeneity among the studies. Several studies fall outside the Funnel Plot, confirming this heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and meta-analysis highlight a considerable prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Maghreb countries. A better understanding of this phenomenon will enable the development of targeted prevention strategies aimed at reducing its prevalence and, consequently, its complications.