Volume 24, Issue 103, May - June, 2020

Snacking patterns in relation to waist circumference and body mass index in female Saudi undergraduate students

Eman S. Alamri^♦

Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Home Economics, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

^♦Corresponding author
Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (deemed to be university), J.N. Medical College, ABVR Hospital, Sawangi Meghe, Wardha 442001, Maharashtra, India. Email: aisharay07@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of snacking patterns, i.e., the frequency of snacks, timing, sources of energy from snacks, and contributions of food groups to total energy, on waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) among female Saudi undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 435 female Saudi undergraduate students from the University of Tabuk were recruited using a cross-sectional design. Dietary intake was estimated using a four-day dietary record. Height, weight, and WC were measured as anthropometric measurements. Results: The study demonstrated that the total energy from snacks per day and the total energyobtained from fat that were consumed by snacking were significantly higher among participants with WC >88 cm and BMI≥ 25 (p<0.05). The frequency of snacks during the night was related to higher WC and BMI measurements. Sweet, fatty products and sweetened beverages significantly contributed to the total energy intake in participants with higher WC and BMI measurements than those with lower WC and BMI measurements (p<0.05). Conclusion: Participants with higher WC and BMI tended to consume snacks frequently in the evening and consume overall more fat than participants with lower WC and BMI. Therefore, increasing awareness around healthy snacks and improving snack choices are essential factors that may have important roles in obesity prevention in the future.

Keywords: Body Mass Index, waist circumference, snaking pattern, Saudi female

Medical Science, 2020, 24(103), 1128-1135

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