Comparison of Lifestyle Patterns and Body Weight Management Practices Between Normal Weight and Obese Female University Students (Riyadh – Saudi Arabia)
Copyright © 2017 Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Background: According to a national survey in 2014, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Saudi women is reaching 33.5%. Instead of adopting healthy lifestyle, this population may adopt some weight management practices (WMP) which might be unhealthy and some could lead to serious health issues.
Aim: To compare lifestyle patterns and WMP adopted by obese and normal weight Saudi females by assessing the difference in energy and macronutrients intake, dietary habits, level of physical activity and WMP.
Methods: Through a cross-sectional study among female students at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) (Riyadh – KSA.), 200 participants were conveniently selected, assigned in two groups in obese and normal weight (each group have 100 students) based on their BMI according to the WHO cut-off values. Data collected through questionnaire and analysis was performed using SPSS program, Chi-square and t-test were used to assess the difference between the two groups.
Results: Unhealthy WMP were high among obese students. Total calorie intake was not different; however, fat intake was higher in obese group (p<0.01). Level of moderate active was higher in normal group than obese group (33% versus 19%, respectively). Food frequency consumption showed that fruit, date and dressing were higher in obese group compared to normal weight group (p-value = 0.02, 0.01 and 0.03).
Conclusions: Obese PNU female students adopt unhealthy WMP besides their inadequate nutritional intake and unhealthy dietary habits. Increasing awareness about the healthy lifestyle to manage weight is urgently needed.
Keywords
How to Cite
1. Williams, S. R., & Worthington-Roberts, B. S. (1996). Nutrition throughout the life cycle (3rd ed.). Mosby.
2. Ziglio, E., Currie, C., & Rasmussen, V. B. (2004). The WHO cross-national study of health behavior in school-aged children from 35 countries: Findings from 2001–2002. Journal of School Health, 74(6), 204–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb07933.x
3. Othlings, U. N., Ford, J. E., Oger, K. R., & Boeing, H. (2010). Lifestyle factors and mortality among adults with diabetes: Findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition–Potsdam study. Journal of Diabetes, 2(2), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-0407.2010.00067.x
4. Reddy, P., Rankins, D., Timoshanko, A., & Dunbar, J. A. (2011). Life in Australia: Translating prevention research into a large-scale intervention. British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, 11(4), 193–197. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474651411410724
5. Al-Rethaiaa, A. S., Fahmy, A. A., & Al-Shwaiyat, M. N. (2010). Obesity and eating habits among college students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Nutrition Journal, 9, Article 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-9-39
6. Memish, Z. A., El Bcheraoui, C., Tuffaha, M., Robinson, M., Daoud, F., Jaber, S., Mikhitarian, S., Al Saeedi, M., & AlMazroa, M. A. (2014). Obesity and associated factors—Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2013. Preventing Chronic Disease, 11, Article 140236. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140236
7. Rasheed, P., Abou-Hozaifa, B. M., & Khan, A. (1994). Obesity among young Saudi female adults: A prevalence study on medical and nursing students. Public Health, 108(4), 289–294. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0033-3506(05)80073-4
8. Huang, T. T., Harris, K. J., Lee, R. E., Nazir, N., Born, W., & Kaur, H. (2003). Assessing overweight, obesity, diet, and physical activity in college students. Journal of American College Health, 52(2), 83–86. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448480309595728
9. Albassam, R., Abdel Gawwad, E., & Khanam, L. (2007). Weight management practices and their relationship to knowledge, perception and health status of Saudi females attending diet clinics in Riyadh city. Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 82(1–2), 173–201.
10. World Health Organization. (2000). Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic—Report of a WHO consultation on obesity. World Health Organization.
Similar Articles
- Association Between Meal Skipping and the Double Burden of Malnutrition Among University Students
- Examination of traditional fermented food consumption and product awareness of university students in Istanbul, Turkey
- Study of the Relationship Between Nutrition, Physical Activity and Overweight/Obesity Among Children in a School Context
- Prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity among in-school adolescents in Harare, Zimbabwe
- Understanding Bread Consumption and Waste Patterns in Algeria and Tunisia: Insights into Consumer Practices and Challenges
- Hepatorenal and Cerebral Toxicity Induced by Consumption of Cow Meat Singed with Scrap Tyres: An Experimental Study in a Rat Model
- Egg Consumption and its Association with Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Association of Socioeconomic Status, Dietary Behavior, and Obesity Among Moroccan Adults of the Region of Rabat: A Case-Control Study
- Emerging Trends in Coffee Consumption Among University Students in Béjaïa, Algeria
- Hepatoprotective Potential of Probiotic-Enriched Stirred Yoghurt Against Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in a Rat Model
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- The Role of Nutrition in Strengthening Immune System Against Newly Emerging Viral Diseases: Case of SARS-CoV-2
- Association Between Breakfast Intake and Short-Term Memory, Performance and Mood Among Saudi Female Adolescents
- Farm-to-school nutrition programs with special reference to Egypt and Morocco
- Editorial from the New Editor-in-Chief and the New Executive Deputy Editors-in-Chief
NAJFNR is licensed under 