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Alashmali S. Differences in eating habits, physical activity, and sleep patterns among high school students and their parents before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1408145. [PMID: 39100944 PMCID: PMC11295278 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1408145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The recent COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted the eating and lifestyle habits among populations, especially among younger populations who are more prone to unhealthy dietary behaviours. However, current knowledge related to eating and lifestyle patterns, especially physical activity and sleep among different generations is limited. Our study sought to understand the eating habits, physical activity, and sleep behaviours among high school students compared to their parents in Saudi Arabia, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study was conducted in public high schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (n = 8 schools), spanning from September 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected using an online questionnaire, distributed to all students and their parents (n = 516) in these schools. Results During the pandemic, parents (46.4%) showed a heightened interest in health and nutrition compared to students (32.7%, p = 0.001). Food preferences changed for 58.1% of participants; 70.0% of parents and 36.7% of students opted for homemade food (p < 0.001). Unhealthy behaviours like eating out were more common in students. Weight varied by 74.0% during COVID-19, with more parents (41.4%) gaining weight than students (31.6%, p = 0.018). Physical activity dropped more for parents (42.1%) than students (23.9%), though 30.7 and 31.6% reported increases, respectively (p < 0.001). Regardless of the pandemic, students were more likely to sleep later compared to parents (58.0% vs. 41.4%; p < 0.001), while parents were more prone to waking up earlier compared to students (81.4% vs. 67.3%, p = 0.002). Discussion The findings underscore the varied pandemic impact on eating habits and physical activity between students and parents. Tailored interventions are vital for promoting healthier choices during health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoug Alashmali
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Hindi Z, Belfakira C, Lafram A, Bikri S, Benayad A, El Bilali H, Bügel SG, Srednicka-Tober D, Pugliese P, Strassner C, Rossi L, Stefanovic L, Aboussaleh Y. Exploring food consumption patterns in the province of Kenitra, Northwest of Morocco. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1899. [PMID: 39014347 PMCID: PMC11251386 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19335-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morocco is currently undergoing rapid changes in diets and lifestyles, influenced by globalization and urbanization, leading to a shift away from the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) toward Western diets. OBJECTIVE Describe and explore the food consumption patterns of the population of Kenitra province and their adherence to the MedDiet using a validated survey. METHOD The current cross-sectional study involved 442 respondents from Kenitra province, comprising individuals aged 18 and above. The survey included a combination of closed and open-ended questions regarding food consumption patterns and socio-demographic characteristics. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using the Panagiotakos method to calculate the MedDiet score (MDS). Additionally, each participant's adherence to the MedDiet was evaluated using a method based on Martínez-González's approach. RESULTS The results indicate that 31% of the participants eat vegetables, 28% eat fruits, and 19% eat wholegrain bread daily. Furthermore, 58% regularly use olive oil in their cooking. Eating out of home (OOH) was high, with popular places being restaurants and cafes (70%), fast food outlets (20%), and workplace canteens (7%). Overall, participants showed moderate adherence to the MedDiet, with a mean MDS of 36.3 ± 19.7. CONCLUSIONS Promoting healthy eating habits is crucial in Kenitra. With moderate consumption of nutrient-dense foods and the popularity of the MedDiet, targeted interventions and educational initiatives can promote healthy dietary behaviors, improving overall public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zakia Hindi
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco
| | - Chaimaa Belfakira
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco
| | - Amina Lafram
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco
| | - Samir Bikri
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco
| | - Asmaa Benayad
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco
| | - Hamid El Bilali
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Valenzano (Bari), 70010, Italy
| | - Susanne Gjedsted Bügel
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Dominika Srednicka-Tober
- Department of Functional and Organic Food, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159c, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland
| | - Patrizia Pugliese
- International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Valenzano (Bari), 70010, Italy
| | - Carola Strassner
- Department of Food - Nutrition - Facilities, FH Münster University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Germany
| | - Laura Rossi
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics - Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, CREA - Food and Nutrition), Rome, Italy
| | - Lilliana Stefanovic
- Section of Organic Food Quality, Faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Youssef Aboussaleh
- Biology and Health Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco.
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Heidari Z, Feizi A, Haghighatdoost F. Validity and reliability of the Persian version of food preferences questionnaire (Persian-FPQ) in Iranian adolescents. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11493. [PMID: 38769328 PMCID: PMC11106254 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61433-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The assessment of dietary intakes and habits using reliable and youth-specific measurement tools during adolescence is essential. The aim of the present study was to culturally adapt and investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the food preferences questionnaire (Persian-FPQ) among Iranian adolescents. This methodological cross-sectional study was conducted among 452 Persian-speaking adolescents, living in Isfahan, Iran. Translation of the FPQ was performed using forward-backward method. Intra Class Correlation (ICC) and Cronbach's α were used to assess test-retest reliability and internal consistency, respectively. Construct validity was investigated by using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Divergent validity was determined using correlation analysis with Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10). Known-group validity was assessed based on differences in mean food preference score between boys and girls and different categories of body mass index (BMI). The internal and external reliabilities for the Persian-FPQ were in the range of good to excellent in all domains (Cronbach's α: 0.76-0.96 and ICCs: 0.982-0.998). Boys had higher scores of food preferences than girls, indicating good known-group validity. Construct validity evaluated by EFA led to extraction of seven factors ("Vegetables", "Fruit", "Dairy", "Snacks", "Meat/Fish", "Starches" and "Miscellaneous foods"), explaining 37.8% of the variance. Divergent validity revealed significant negative correlations between five sub-scales of the Persian-FPQ and psychological distress. The Persian version of the FPQ is a reliable and valid instrument with applicability in a broad range of the population of Persian-speaking adolescents for assessing food preferences in community-based research projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Heidari
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar-Jerib Ave., P.O. Box 319, Isfahan, 81746-3461, Iran
| | - Awat Feizi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar-Jerib Ave., P.O. Box 319, Isfahan, 81746-3461, Iran.
| | - Fahimeh Haghighatdoost
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Shi K, Yu Y, Li Z, Hou M, Li X. Causal relationship between dietary salt intake and dementia risk: Mendelian randomization study. GENES & NUTRITION 2024; 19:6. [PMID: 38491466 PMCID: PMC10943813 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-024-00741-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Observational research has indicated a potential link between dietary salt intake and susceptibility to dementia. However, it is important to note that these types of studies are prone to the issues of reverse causation and residual confounding. Therefore, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to explore the causality. METHOD To explore the causal relationship between them, this Mendelian randomization (MR) study incorporated summary statistics of dietary salt intake and dementia. We estimated the causality between salt intake and the risk of overall dementia and various subtypes of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Vascular dementia (VaD), and Lewy body dementia (LBD). The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was the major MR analysis. To conduct sensitivity analyses, we employed various MR methods, the pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) method, and the leave-one-out approach. The MR-Egger intercept and Cochran's Q test were conducted to test pleiotropy and heterogeneity respectively. RESULTS A suggestive association was observed for genetically predicted higher dietary salt intake and increased risk of overall dementia in the European ancestry [odds ratio (OR): 1.542; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.095-2.169; P = 0.013]. The causal relationship between dietary salt intake and overall dementia is robust with respect to the choice of statistical methods and is validated through extensive sensitivity analyses that guard against various model assumption violations. Meanwhile, no clear heterogeneity or pleiotropy was identified. However, we failed to detect a causal effect of dietary salt intake on the risk of various dementia subtypes. CONCLUSION The results of this research present strong evidence that established a significant association between dietary salt intake and the likelihood of developing dementia. These findings reinforce the notion that the amount of dietary salt intake plays a crucial role in determining the risk of acquiring this cognitive condition. By establishing a definitive correlation, this study highlights the importance of reducing salt consumption as a preventive measure against dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Shi
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Yongbo Yu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Zhaolin Li
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Miaomiao Hou
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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Malinowska D, Milewski R, Żendzian-Piotrowska M. Risk factors of colorectal cancer: the comparison of selected nutritional behaviors of medical and non-medical students. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2023; 42:50. [PMID: 37254180 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-023-00389-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to compare the diet of medical and non-medical students in relation to colorectal cancer risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 239 students of various universities in Bialystok, Poland. Respondents were divided into four groups: students of dietetics at the Medical University (SD), students of other fields of study at the Medical University (SMUB), students of the University of Technology (SBUT) and students of the University of Bialystok (SUB). The research tool was an anonymous questionnaire in an electronic form, designed by the authors of this paper. RESULTS Overweight was the least common among students of dietetics. Products that may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer were most frequently consumed by students of non-medical universities. Everyday consumption of processed meat products was declared by 2.08% of SD, 24.00% of SMUB, 16.13% of SBUT and 25.93% of SUB. Red meat was consumed several times a week or every day by 25% of SD, 25.33% of SMUB, 48.39% of SBUT and 35.19% of SUB. Fast-food meals consumption once or several times a week was confirmed by 4.17% of SD, 18.67% of SMUB, 27.42% of SBUT and 38.89% of SUB. CONCLUSION The study conducted shows that students expose themselves to colorectal cancer risk factors through their diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Malinowska
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
| | - Robert Milewski
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
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AlBlooshi S, Khalid A, Hijazi R. The Barriers to Sustainable Nutrition for Sustainable Health among Zayed University Students in the UAE. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14194175. [PMID: 36235827 PMCID: PMC9571293 DOI: 10.3390/nu14194175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Unhealthy and unsustainable nutrition is a major concern globally, including in the United Arab Emirates. Although many education programs have been conducted, diet-related illnesses remain prevalent. This study aims to identify the barriers between knowledge and practice of sustainable healthy diets to achieve long-term health, among students of Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates. An online questionnaire was sent to Zayed University (ZU) students over 18 years of age, using snowball sampling. The participants achieved a mean score of 5.6 out of 11 in nutritional knowledge, and a mean score of 3.4 out of 6 in healthy habits. The only barrier that significantly affected dietary habits was not knowing how to plan a diet (p = 0.025). Accordingly, having good nutritional knowledge was significantly related to improved dietary habits (p < 0.001). In addition, school curriculums (p = 0.004), doing one’s own research (p < 0.001), and social media (p < 0.001) were significantly related to improved nutritional knowledge. The most commonly reported motivators for a healthier diet were “to keep their body healthy for a long time” and “to maintain a healthy weight” (72.6% and 70.1%, respectively). Overall, among ZU students the most significant barrier to achieving sustainable healthy nutrition was lack of knowledge. Education methods such as school curriculums, individual research, and social media were effective. Topics such as how to plan a diet, how to keep the body healthy, and how to maintain a healthy weight are of general interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifa AlBlooshi
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai P.O. Box 19282, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence:
| | - Alia Khalid
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai P.O. Box 19282, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rafiq Hijazi
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 144534, United Arab Emirates
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Mahmood L, Flores-Barrantes P, Moreno LA, Manios Y, Gonzalez-Gil EM. The Influence of Parental Dietary Behaviors and Practices on Children's Eating Habits. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13041138. [PMID: 33808337 PMCID: PMC8067332 DOI: 10.3390/nu13041138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor dietary habits established during childhood might persist into adulthood, increasing the risk of developing obesity and obesity-related complications such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. It has been found that early modifications in eating habits, especially during childhood, might promote health and decrease the risk of developing diseases during later life. Various studies found a great influence of parental dietary habits on dietary behaviors of their children regardless of demographic characteristics such as gender, age, socioeconomic status and country; however, the exact mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to investigate both parents’ and children’s dietary behaviors, and to provide evidence for the potential influence of parents’ dietary behaviors and practices on certain children’s eating habits. Family meals were found to contribute the most in modeling children’s dietary habits as they represent an important moment of control and interaction between parents and their children. The parental practices that influenced their children most were role modeling and moderate restriction, suggesting that the increase of parental encouragement and decrease of excessive pressure could have a positive impact in their children’s dietary behaviors. This narrative review highlights that parental child-feeding behaviors should receive more attention in research studies as modifiable risk factors, which could help to design future dietary interventions and policies to prevent dietary-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Mahmood
- Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.M.); (P.F.-B.); (E.M.G.-G.)
| | - Paloma Flores-Barrantes
- Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.M.); (P.F.-B.); (E.M.G.-G.)
| | - Luis A. Moreno
- Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.M.); (P.F.-B.); (E.M.G.-G.)
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-(97)-676-1000
| | - Yannis Manios
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science & Education, Harokopio University, 17671 Athens, Greece;
- Institute of Agri-food and Life Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Centre, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil
- Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (L.M.); (P.F.-B.); (E.M.G.-G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Center of Biomedical Research (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Suliga E, Cieśla E, Michel S, Kaducakova H, Martin T, Śliwiński G, Braun A, Izova M, Lehotska M, Kozieł D, Głuszek S. Diet Quality Compared to the Nutritional Knowledge of Polish, German, and Slovakian University Students-Preliminary Research. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17239062. [PMID: 33291705 PMCID: PMC7730789 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17239062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The eating habits of students differ significantly from those recommended by health practitioners. The aim of this study was to find differences related to diet quality and knowledge on nutrition among Polish, German, and Slovakian students as well as to examine which factors differentiate the diet quality of students from these three countries. The study was conducted on a group of 394 university students from Poland, Germany, and Slovakia. The assessment of diet quality and knowledge on food and nutrition was done with the use of the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire. The diet of German students was characterized by a significantly higher consumption of legume-based foods, vegetables, and fruit compared to Polish students and Slovakian participants (p < 0.001). The diet of the Poles was characterized by a high consumption of cured meat, smoked sausages, hot dogs, white bread and bakery products, butter, fried foods, and energy drinks. The most important factors significantly associated with diet quality involved the country, place of residence, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity, and time spent watching TV or using a computer. Polish students were characterized by the highest level of knowledge on food and nutrition (p < 0.001). However, it was not reflected in their diet. The authorities of universities should aim to provide students with access to canteens on campuses which would offer the possibility of consumption of both affordable and healthy meals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edyta Suliga
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland; (E.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Elżbieta Cieśla
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland; (E.S.); (D.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sven Michel
- Institute of Ergonomics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Work, Health and Music, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, 03048 Cottbus, Germany; (S.M.); (T.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Helena Kaducakova
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Catholic University in Ružomberok, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia; (H.K.); (M.I.); (M.L.)
| | - Titus Martin
- Institute of Ergonomics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Work, Health and Music, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, 03048 Cottbus, Germany; (S.M.); (T.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Grzegorz Śliwiński
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Technical University in Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Alexander Braun
- Institute of Ergonomics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Work, Health and Music, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, 03048 Cottbus, Germany; (S.M.); (T.M.); (A.B.)
| | - Marcela Izova
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Catholic University in Ružomberok, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia; (H.K.); (M.I.); (M.L.)
| | - Maria Lehotska
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Catholic University in Ružomberok, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia; (H.K.); (M.I.); (M.L.)
| | - Dorota Kozieł
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland; (E.S.); (D.K.)
| | - Stanisław Głuszek
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland;
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Abdelhafez AI, Akhter F, Alsultan AA, Jalal SM, Ali A. Dietary Practices and Barriers to Adherence to Healthy Eating among King Faisal University Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17238945. [PMID: 33271893 PMCID: PMC7731134 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Proper dietary practices should be developed during the student years that will continue into the future. This study aimed to identify the eating habits and dietary practices among King Faisal University (KFU) students, explore the barriers to adherence to healthy eating, associate the understanding of healthy diets with students’ characteristics, and determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and awareness of the concept of healthy diets, academic discipline, and enrollment in a nutrition course. In this cross-sectional study, students were selected randomly and a questionnaire was distributed using an electronic platform through KFU email. Out of 564 students, nearly half (45.7%) reported eating snacks as their main food, and some (38.3%) reported eating with their family twice daily. The students rarely reported eating with friends (73%) or eating dates (48.8%). Furthermore, many reported that they were not consuming a balanced diet (42.6%). Some students (46.3%) reported taking breakfast daily, and 49.1% reported eating meals regularly. There was low consumption of vegetables (29.3%) and fruits (26.2%) among the students. The barriers to adherence to healthy eating were the availability of fast food (73.2%), high cost of healthy food (72.7%), limited time (59%), and laziness (57.1%). Statistically significant data indicated that the students with a normal BMI were more aware of the concept of healthy diets, studied medical and applied sciences, and were enrolled in KFU nutrition courses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Ismael Abdelhafez
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (S.M.J.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-13-589-8455
| | - Fahima Akhter
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (S.M.J.)
| | | | - Sahbanathul Missiriya Jalal
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.); (S.M.J.)
| | - Ayub Ali
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia;
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