Volume 24, Issue 101, January - February, 2020

Dietary habits, eating practices and lifestyle pattern as predictors of increased waist circumference amongst University of Umm Al-Qura female students: A cross-sectional study (Obesity Associated Risk Factors)

Mazen M. Ghaith^1♦, Mohammed O. Ibrahim²

¹Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, KSA
²Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan

^♦Corresponding author
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia Email: mmghaith@uqu.edu.sa

ABSTRACT

Objective: Waist circumference (WC) is considered one of the best indicators for assessing abdominal obesity. However, we designed this study to evaluate the association between dietary patterns, eating practices and lifestyle pattern among healthy young age females at Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, with increased WC. Methods: Healthy young adult female students were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Face-to-face interview of 1616 participants was performed with each applicant and a validated closed-questionnaire was used to determine the dietary habits, eating practices and lifestyle pattern. WC, weight, height, and BMI were measured by standard methods. Results: This study indicated that the mean BMI and WC for the whole sample were all within the normal level. The percentages of obese and overweight females were 10.9% and 18.1%, respectively. This study observed that no regular physical activity, skipping breakfast, consuming fried foods > 5 times /week, and intake of processed meat for > 5 times /week were the significantly related to increased adiposity. Additionally, drinking soft drinks > 2 times /week was shown to be associated with 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of adiposity when compared to participants who consumed soft drinks <1 time /week. Conclusion: Increasing the level of knowledge and awareness about the risk factors related to increased WC, such higher intake of some unhealthy foods and drinks and low physical activity, is very crucial to reduce the high prevalence of increased adiposity at this age group and decreasing the adverse health outcomes with age.

Keywords: Dietary Habits; Eating Practices; Lifestyle Pattern; Waist Circumference

Medical Science, 2020, 24(101), 351-359

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