Social media is turning Saudis into "electronic potatoes" and contributing to unhealthy lifestyles, according to AFP.
Experts have said that one in four are at risk of suffering a heart attack in the next ten years.
Researchers looked at over 4,900 Saudis that live in urban areas with no history of heart disease. They then calculated the 10-year risk of a heart attack.
More than half of the study's participants were women, and most people were aged 20-40. One quarter were diabetic and this had a large impact on risk, the European Society of Cardiology said.
"Diabetes doesn't occur in isolation. Diabetic individuals had a significantly increased prevalence of other risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, smoking and dyslipidemia," or high cholesterol, Muhammad Adil Soofi, lead author of the study and a cardiologist at Prince Salman Heart Center explained.
"As a result of the high level of risk factors, 26 percent of participants were at high risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack in 10 years," the statement said.
The research was presented at the Saudi Heart Association's (SHA's) 26th annual conference, which is ongoing until Monday.
In the statement, Muhammad Adil Soofi said that urbanization, lack of education and Westernization may be to blame for the unhealthy lifestyle that Saudis are leading.
"They eat more fast food and deep-fried items and on top of that do not exercise," he said.
In Saudi Arabia and other Arab states of the Gulf, healthy lifestyles are rare, said Hani Najm, the SHA vice president.
"Young people's addiction to smart phones and social media has turned them into electronic potatoes, today's version of the couch potato...
"They have zero intention of being physically active," Najm said, calling on governments to provide free indoor gyms and green spaces for exercise.
On Feb. 28, Riyadh is to hold its first publicly organized run, over a five-kilometer route, to promote a more active lifestyle.
In Qatar, another energy-rich Gulf state, more than a million workers were given a day off work Tuesday to take part in a nationwide day of sport amid growing concern at obesity levels
