HEALTH

Saudi Adults See BMI, Cholesterol Drop After Six‑Month Wellness Clinic Program

Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaFri Aug 28 2026
A team of researchers looked back at records from 281 adults who attended a wellness clinic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The facility offered two separate programs: one focused on metabolic health and another aimed at helping participants stop smoking. Over a six‑month window, the investigators tracked body mass index, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, and total cholesterol at the start, middle, and end of the study. They used statistical models that compare changes within the same individuals over time to identify meaningful shifts.

After six months, the average BMI had dropped by roughly one kilogram per square meter, and total cholesterol fell by about 0.25 millimoles per litre. Among the smokers who entered the study, close to a quarter—24.1 percent—had quit by the final visit. Blood pressure readings and HbA1c levels remained essentially unchanged throughout the period. These modest improvements suggest that the clinic’s approach can influence weight and lipid levels, but not blood pressure or long‑term glucose control.

The outcomes point to a possible role for comprehensive wellness clinics in everyday medical practice for Saudi adults at risk of cardiometabolic disease. By offering combined metabolic and smoking‑cessation support, such programs may help lower the overall disease burden in the country. The findings also open the door for larger trials to confirm these benefits and to explore how the interventions could be integrated into public health strategies.

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