Prevalence of Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and Associated Prediabetes Metabolic Markers Among Adolescents in Saudi Arabia

Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing health concern among adolescents, driven by rising obesity rates. Early identification of prediabetes, particularly impaired fasting glucose (IFG), can guide interventions to reduce long‐term risks. Despite the global burden of diabetes, limited data exist on Saudi adolescents, a population experiencing high rates of obesity. Objective To determine the prevalence and associated factors for IFG in a representative sample of Saudi adolescents. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis on a subgroup of participants from the national Jeeluna study (2011–2012), which sampled adolescents aged 10–19 years from all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. Anthropometric measurements, fasting plasma glucose levels, and lifestyle data were collected. Dysglycemia (IFG or diabetes) was defined using American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with dysglycemia. Results The study included 5,421 participants (50.8% females; mean ± SD age was 15.9 ± 1.8 years). Prevalence of dysglycemia was 4.8% (IFG: 4.1%; diabetes: 0.7%). Dysglycemia was more prevalent in obese adolescents (8.2%) compared to overweight (4.8%) and nonobese/nonoverweight peers (4.1%), p < 0.0001. Regional differences were noted with the highest prevalence in Mecca (6.1%). Compared with nondysglycemic patients, those who were dysglycemic had higher proportion of individuals consuming fast food meals per week ( p = 0.03), body mass index (BMI) ( p < 0.0001), tri‐ponderal mass (TMI) ( p < 0.001), waist‐to‐height ratio ( p = 0.001) and systolic BP ( p < 0.001) and lower triglycerides ( p < 0.0001). Factors independently associated with dysglycemia included systolic BP (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.04, p < 0.0001), triglyceride levels (OR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.27–2.00, p < 0.0001) and geographical region (Mecca OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.07–196, Riyadh OR = 0.61,95% CI 0.42–0.89, p < 0.001, compared with other regions combinedly). Conclusion Our study highlights the prevalence of dysglycemia (4.8%) among Saudi adolescents, particularly in those with obesity. Risk factors included higher BMI and increased fast food consumption. Notably, regional differences were observed, with Mecca reporting the highest prevalence. Our findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in obesity, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyles and early screening for T2D in this vulnerable population.