Factors associated with overweight and obesity among Bangladeshi university students: a case-control study

Exploring university students' nutrition literacy in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey

Introduction

Improving individuals' nutrition literacy can be one way to promote healthy dietary behaviors, which lowers the incidence of non-communicable diseases. In Saudi Arabia, there is a limited information regarding nutrition literacy among students. Therefore, the purposes of this study was to investigate university students' nutrition literacy and identify its predictors in Saudi Arabia. Another objective was to assess how nutrition literacy is associated with eating habits among this sample.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried out among students attending the University of Jeddah and King Abdulaziz University (Jeddah City) in Saudi Arabia from June 2023 to September 2023. Using a convenience sampling approach, 570 students were enrolled in this study. An online-based structured survey tool including demographic details, a food frequency questionnaire, and a nutrition literacy scale was used to collect the data. Descriptive and multiple binary logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results

Approximately 40.4% of the participants exhibited poor nutrition literacy. Female students were less likely than male students to have poor nutrition literacy (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.62; 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.42, 0.92). Underweight (AOR = 1.73; 95%CI = 1.22, 4.56) and overweight participants (AOR = 3.1; 95%CI = 2.77, 7.23) were at higher risk of having poor level of nutrition literacy as compared to those who had normal weight. Students who did not take any nutrition-related courses had a 1.3 times higher probability of having a poor level of nutrition literacy compared to their counterparts (AOR = 1.3; 95%CI = 1.05, 3.74). Moreover, poor nutrition literacy was associated with higher weekly consumption frequencies of red meat, processed foods, funk foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Conclusion

A higher percentage of university students had poor nutrition literacy, which was associated with gender, self-reported BMI status, nutrition-related courses and unhealthy eating habits. These findings can assist university administrators and policymakers in implementing effective measures to enhance students' nutrition literacy rates in Saudi Arabia.

A Pilot Study on Dietary Choices at Universities: Vending Machines, Canteens, and Lunch from Home

Commercial environments and food acquisition methods significantly shape dietary practices and impact health. This study assesses dietary choices among Portuguese university students regarding vending machines, canteens, and lunches from home. It also evaluates their use of the university canteen and their tendency to bring lunch from home. This pilot cross-sectional study used a self-administered electronic questionnaire, made available in early 2023. Participants were recruited through snowball sampling. The study included 137 students from Portuguese higher education institutions, mainly women (74.5%), pursuing degrees or integrated Master's degrees (83.2%), primarily in health-related fields (55.5%). The median age was 21 years (20 to 23.5 years). About 70.0% regularly consumed food from vending machines, while approximately 60.0% brought lunch from home, avoiding the canteen. Factors such as convenience (48.5%), price (47.5%), product availability (40.6%), and taste (39.6%) mainly influenced vending machine choices. Monthly, chocolates, water, coffee, cookies, treats, and soft drinks were the most commonly acquired items, with coffee being the most frequent daily purchase. These findings provide insights for creating policies and initiatives to promote healthier and more accessible food options for students and strategies to encourage positive eating behaviors.

Associations between ultraprocessed and minimally processed snacks consumption and overweight/obesity among college students in South Florida

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the association between ultraprocessed and minimally processed snack consumption and overweight/obesity among college students.

PARTICIPANTS

College students.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online survey with questions on socio-demographics, beverages and snacks consumption, and weight status. ANCOVA and logistic regression was used; analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, physical activity, and sleep duration.

RESULTS

A total of 435 students completed all questions in the survey. Most students were female (73.3%), Hispanics (61.1%), had a mean age of 24.7-year old and 40% had overweight/obesity. Those with overweight/obesity also had higher odds of consuming soft drinks in higher frequency and quantity than those without overweight/obesity (p < .05). Never consuming unsweetened yogurt/cheese and lower frequency and consumption of fruits were associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Higher frequency and consumption of soft drinks while lower frequency and consumption of unsweetened yogurt/cottage cheese and fruits were associated with overweight/obesity.

Dietary and Lifestyle Risk Factors of Obesity Among Young Adults: A Scoping Review of Observational Studies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide, especially among young adults. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize the current evidence on dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with obesity among young adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

A scoping review was performed using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search of five electronic databases published from inception to October 2023 was conducted. A total of 46 observational studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. The findings suggest that high intake of energy-dense foods, unhealthy eating habits, poor sleep quality, and increased screen time were significant risk factors for obesity among young adults. In contrast, the association between obesity and sedentary behavior, low physical activity levels, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits was inconclusive. The reviewed evidence suggests that unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors are associated with an increased risk of obesity among young adults. The findings highlight the need for further research on these modifiable risk factors to prevent and manage obesity among young adults.

Internet addiction, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms are associated with the risk of eating disorders among university students in Bangladesh

The risk of developing an eating disorder among university students is higher than the general population in Bangladesh. Since psychiatric disorders (such as depression and anxiety) and addictive behaviors (e.g., internet addiction) predominantly exist among university students in the country, these may increase their vulnerability to developing an eating disorder. The association of internet addiction, depression, and anxiety with the risk of eating disorders among Bangladeshi university students is relatively unknown; therefore, this study investigates the association. This study was a cross-sectional design. Students (N = 700) from two public universities in Bangladesh completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) tool, and Orman's Internet Addiction Survey (OIAS) to measure exposure variables. Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) assessed the outcome variable. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that internet addiction [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for moderate addiction = 2.15 and severe addiction = 3.95], depressive (aOR 3.04), and anxiety (aOR 2.06) symptoms were associated with an increased risk of eating disorder among study participants. Future longitudinal studies on university students are recommended to gain a better understanding about the causal factors of eating disorder to support intervention initiatives and strategies by public health practitioners and policy experts.

Food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences among Bangladeshi university students: Evidence from a cross-sectional study

Food neophobia, described as a reluctance to eat and or avoid new food, is a personality trait that affects food choice. Despite its potential influence on an individual's food intake, food neophobia has been poorly investigated in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate food neophobia and its association with sociodemographic factors and food preferences in a sample of Bangladeshi university students. Five hundred students from five public universities completed the structured surveys. Food neophobia was assessed by a 10-item validated food neophobia scale with some minor modifications based on study settings. A multiple linear regression model was used to observe the factors associated with food neophobia. The mean food neophobia score among study participants was 37.45 (SD: 13.39, Range: 13-67). According to the adjusted statistical model, being female (regression coefficient, β = 2.73), having higher monthly family income (β = -6.64), being underweight (β = 4.68), being overweight (β = -4.63), having any food allergy (β = 9.09), and a history of sickness after eating a new food item (β = 5.16) were significantly associated with food neophobia amongst the participants. The participants' liking of various food items such as vegetables were significantly correlated with food neophobia scores. Nutrition education policies and programs are of importance to address the students' food neophobia during their tertiary education so that they maintain lifelong healthy dietary habits and consume a variety of foods to improve their physical health and well-being.

Obesity and Its Associations with Gender, Smoking, Consumption of Sugary Drinks, and Hour of Sleep Among King Abdulaziz University Students in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the prevalence of obesity among university students in Saudi Arabia's western region, as well as its association with gender, smoking, consumption of sugary drinks, and hours of sleep.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study recruited a simple random sample of students from King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Saudi Arabia's western region. In this study, the Arab Teens Lifestyle (ATLS) questionnaire was used. The survey was conducted between April and June 2022.

RESULTS

In total, 659 students participated (313 males [37.3%] and 437 females [66.2%]). One-fourth of the students, 158 (24%), were overweight, and 83 (12.7%) were obese. Male participants were overweight or obese by a rate of 32.6% and 19.4%, respectively. Female overweight and obese rates were 16.2% and 6.6%, respectively. Moreover, obesity/overweight rates were 43.6% in the urban area and 36.9% in the rural area (P=0.03). A total of 370 participants (56.14%) slept less than 8 hours per day, 185 (28.1%) spent more than five hours per day watching television or using the internet, and 303 (46%) ate breakfast on a regular basis. Obesity/overweight was more common in smokers than in nonsmokers (59.7% vs 32.8%, P=0.01). The prevalence of obesity was lower among those who walked three days or more per week (28.1% vs 44.1%; P=0.01) and ran/jogged outside or on a treadmill three days or more per week (29.5% vs 39.8%; P=0.03) than among those who ran/jogged less than three days per week. Student obesity was independently predicted by being male (P=0.01), drinking more sugary drinks (P=0.01), smoking (P=0.03), and sleeping for fewer hours (P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

Obesity was more prevalent in male students, with a prevalence of 24%. Male gender, consumption of more sugary beverages, smoking, and sleeping for fewer hours were all independent predictors of obesity among university students.

Association between Nutrition Literacy and Bangladeshi Adults' Healthy Eating Behaviors: Evidence from the Nutrition Literacy Study 2021

This study investigated the association between healthy eating behaviors and nutrition literacy in a sample of Bangladeshi adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 adults from two districts of Bangladesh (Dhaka and Chattogram). Data were generated by in-person interviews using a structured questionnaire. The Nutrition Literacy Scale and National Dietary Guidelines for Bangladesh were used to assess nutrition literacy and healthy eating behaviors, respectively. Multiple linear regression models were used to observe the association. The mean score for healthy eating behavior was 21.8 (SD = 4.8, Range: 5−33) on a scale of 34. A moderate positive correlation was found between nutrition literacy and healthy eating behavior of participants (r = 0.28, p < 0.001). The adjusted regression model showed that a 1 unit increase in nutrition literacy reflected an increase in the healthy eating behavior score of participants by 0.22 units (β = 0.223, p < 0.001). Findings showed an association between nutrition literacy and eating behaviors in Bangladeshi adults. Future research could be carried out to establish a causal relationship that may help inform the necessity of educational interventions for Bangladeshi adults to assist with meeting national nutrition-related targets.

Assessment of Knowledge of Monkeypox Viral Infection among the General Population in Saudi Arabia

Monkeypox is re-emerging and spreading over the world, posing a serious threat to human life, especially in non-endemic countries, including Saudi Arabia. Due to the paucity of research on knowledge about monkeypox in Saudi Arabia, this study aimed to evaluate the general population’s knowledge of monkeypox in a sample of the country. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from 25 May 2022 to 15 July 2022. Participants’ knowledge about monkeypox on a 23-item scale and socio-demographic characteristics were gathered in the survey. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to compare knowledge level (categorized into high and low) and explanatory variables. Out of 480, only 48% of the respondents had high knowledge (mean score > 14). Participants’ age, marital status, residential region, living in the urban area, education level, employment status, being a healthcare worker, income, and smoking status were significantly associated with the level of knowledge about monkeypox (p < 0.01). Overall, social media (75.0%) was the most frequently reported source from where participants obtained monkeypox-related information followed by TV and radio (45.6%), family or friend (15.6%), and healthcare provider (13.8%). We found that overall knowledge of monkeypox infection was slightly poor among the Saudi population. These findings highlight the urgent need for public education on monkeypox to promote awareness and engage the public ahead of the outbreak.

A cross-sectional study examining self-reported anthropometric measurements with adolescents' nutrition attitudes, obesity awareness and diet quality indices during the pandemic

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between adolescents' nutritional attitudes, obesity awareness, and diet quality with their self-reported anthropometric measurements taken during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional type of study was conducted in a district in the south of Turkey. The research was carried out online with 907 adolescents who agreed to participate voluntarily.

RESULTS

Among the adolescents, 28.5% considered themselves overweight, and 32.1% were currently trying to lose weight. According to BMI, 16.1% were affected by overweight/obesity. Adolescents' nutritional attitudes and obesity awareness levels were moderate, while their KIDMED nutritional habits were also moderate. In this study, a negative relationship was found between the adolescents' ASHN mean scores and their body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, neck circumference, waist/hip ratio and waist/height ratio measurements; and between their OAS mean scores and their body weight, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio and waist/height ratio measurements; and between their KIDMED index scores and their waist/height ratio measurements (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of adolescents who perceive themselves as overweight is higher than the results obtained from the measurement values. BMI levels and other anthropometric measurement values of adolescents with positive nutrition attitudes and physical activity behaviours are also positively affected.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

This study may have a significant impact on the formulation and implementation of interventions to prevent obesity and increase physical activity for school health nurses. Since the pandemic is still continuing, healthcare providers must stress the risk of obesity in adolescence.

Malnutrition in all its forms and associated factors affecting the nutritional status of adult rural population in Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

The burden of malnutrition is widely evaluated in Bangladesh in different contexts. However, most of them determine the influence of sociodemographic factors, which have limited scope for modification and design intervention. This study attempted to determine the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity and their modifiable lifestyle predictors in a rural population of Bangladesh.

METHODS

This study was part of a cross-sectional study that applied the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions in a rural area of Bangladesh to assess the burden of diabetes, hypertension and their associated risk factors. Census was used as the sampling technique. Anthropometric measurement and data on sociodemographic characteristics and behavioural risk factors were collected following the standard protocol described in the WHO STEP-wise approach. Analysis included means of continuous variables and multinomial regression of factors.

RESULTS

The mean body mass index of the study population was 21.9 kg/m2. About 20.9% were underweight, 16.4% were overweight and 3.5% were obese. Underweight was most predominant among people above 60 years, while overweight and obesity were predominant among people between 31 and 40 years. Higher overweight and obesity were noted among women. Employment, consumption of added salt and inactivity increased the odds of being underweight by 0.32, 0.33 and 0.14, respectively. On the other hand, the odds of being overweight or obese increased by 0.58, 0.55, 0.78, 0.21 and 0.25 if a respondent was female, literate, married, housewife and consumed red meat, and decreased by 0.38 and 0.18 if a respondent consumed added salt and inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, respectively. Consumption of added salt decreases the odds of being overweight or obese by 0.37.

CONCLUSION

The study emphasised malnutrition to be a public health concern in spite of the dynamic sociodemographic scenario. Specific health messages for targeted population may help improve the nutritional status. Findings from further explorations may support policies and programmes in the future.

Association of overweight and obesity with the risk of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Bangladeshi university students

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the relation between weight status and eating disorders symptomatology among Bangladeshi university students. Moreover, the sociocultural climate in Bangladesh has changed in ways that might increase young adults' vulnerability to eating disorder symptomatology. Therefore, this study explored disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Bangladeshi university students, and their association with Body Mass Index.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 398 students from one Bangladeshi university [mean age = 21.12 and 50.25% women]. Anthropometric measures (height and weight) were collected in-person by study staff. Participants also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26). The established EAT-26 cutoff score of ≥20 was used to identify participants as having elevated risk for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. Participants' BMIs were classified according to World Health Organization guidelines.

RESULT

Over one-fifth (20.4%) of students in the sample had EAT-26 scores ≥20 (17.2% male and 23.5% female). Students with BMIs classified as overweight or obese were more likely to have elevated EAT-26 scores (OR = 3.572[2.12-6.03], p < .001). A significant positive correlation was found between overweight/obesity, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (r = 0.41, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that additional research is needed to investigate eating disorder symptomatology in Bangladeshis. In particular, future studies should use longitudinal designs, and large and diverse samples.