Yasmin Altwaijri facts for kids

Yasmin Ahmed Almubarak Altwaijri (Arabic: ياسمين أحمد المبارك التويجري) is a top scientist in Saudi Arabia. She is the head of Epidemiology Research at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh. Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and affect people in a community. Dr. Altwaijri looks into health issues like obesity and mental illness in Saudi society. She also works hard to suggest changes that can help people live healthier lives.

Becoming a Scientist

Dr. Altwaijri started her journey in science by studying Community Health. She earned her first degree (B.Sc.) in 1992 from King Saud University in Riyadh.

Studying in the United States

After getting married, Dr. Altwaijri and her husband moved to the United States. There, she continued her studies at Tufts University. She worked with Professor Johanna Dwyer, a well-known expert in nutrition. Dr. Altwaijri earned her master's degree (M.Sc.) in 1996. She then completed her Ph.D. in 2002. Her parents always encouraged her to have a career. They wanted her to be able to support herself.

Dr. Altwaijri's Work

After finishing her studies in the U.S., Dr. Altwaijri returned to Saudi Arabia in 2002. She first worked at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Later, she joined the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Today, she leads the epidemiology research center there. She is known as one of the country's leading scientists.

Studying Health in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Altwaijri designs and carries out important health studies. She focuses on the health of people in Saudi Arabia. She pays special attention to women, children, and teenagers.

Growth Standards for Children

One important area she studies is how Saudi children grow. Doctors in Saudi Arabia used to rely on growth charts from children in the United States. Dr. Altwaijri is creating new studies. These studies will help understand how Saudi children grow. They will consider things like family income, diet, and where they live.

Understanding Health Risks

Dr. Altwaijri also researches things that can make people sick. These are called risk factors. They include obesity, smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood cholesterol, and not getting enough exercise. These factors can lead to long-term health problems.

She believes that social factors play a big role in health. She strongly supports changes in society and government. These changes would help people live healthier lives. For example, women in Saudi Arabia face more challenges with obesity than men. This is partly because social customs can limit their chances to exercise or play sports.

Dr. Altwaijri suggests several ways to improve health:

• Making sure girls and boys have physical education in schools.
• Creating safe places in neighborhoods for all children to play.
• Having safe areas where adult men and women can be active.
• Making health clubs affordable for everyone.
• Controlling food prices to encourage healthy food choices.

To keep her own children active, she enrolled them in competitive swimming. They even qualified for the AAU Junior Olympic Games.

Mental Health in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Altwaijri is also a main researcher for the Saudi National Mental Health Survey. This big study looks at how mental illness affects communities in Saudi Arabia. Before this study, not much research had been done in this area. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that mental health issues are among the top ten most serious diseases worldwide.

This research involves many groups. It includes the Saudi government and universities. It also works with international partners like Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and the World Health Organization. The study started in 2009. Its goal was to interview 5,000 men and women across the country. About 86% of the people asked were happy to take part.

Obesity in Saudi Arabia

Obesity, especially in children, is increasing globally. This trend is common in developed countries. It is also growing in developing countries, including those in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, one out of every six children is obese. This can lead to problems like difficulty focusing at school. It can also mean less time playing with other children.

Among adults, about 42.4% of men and 31.8% of women are obese. This rise in obesity puts a lot of pressure on the healthcare system. Obesity is a major risk factor for serious diseases, like heart problems. This increase in obesity is linked to Saudi Arabia's growing economy. As the economy grew, people started eating more "Westernized" diets. These diets often have more unhealthy foods.

Women in Science

Dr. Altwaijri leads the Saudi Women in Science Committee. This group connects female scientists across Saudi Arabia. She encourages Saudi women to work in science and technology. She believes women scientists can use online tools to work together. This allows them to do important research while respecting their country's customs. She notes that some rules, like the ban on women driving (which was lifted in 2018), made it hard for women to get to work or go to a gym.

Dr. Altwaijri is one of 35 women featured in the book Arab Women Rising. This book highlights women from different Arab countries. She was also included in the BBC's 2014 list of 100 Women from around the world.

See also

In Spanish: Yasmin Altwaijri para niños