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Tayyem R, Ibrahim MO, Mortada H, AlKhalaf M, Bookari K, Al Sabbah H, Qasrawi R, Kamel I, Dashti S, Allehdan S, Bawadi H, Waly M, Abuhijleh H, Hammouh F, Al-Awwad N, Al-Bayyari N, Cheikh Ismail L, Abu Al-Halawa D, Othman M, Hoteit M. Sex disparities in food consumption patterns, dietary diversity and determinants of self-reported body weight changes before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 10 Arab countries. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1029219. [PMID: 36388291 PMCID: PMC9650450 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1029219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic along with its confinement period boosted lifestyle modifications and impacted women and men differently which exacerbated existing gender inequalities. The main objective of this paper is to assess the gender-based differentials in food consumption patterns, dietary diversity and the determinants favoring weight change before and amid the COVID-19 pandemic among Arab men and women from 10 Arab countries. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted based on a convenience sample of 12,447 households' family members (mean age: 33.2 ± 12.9; 50.1% females) and information from participants aged 18 years and above was collected about periods before and during the pandemic. Results Findings showed that, during the COVID-19 period, the dietary diversity, declined by 1.9% among females compared to males (0.4%) (p < 0.001) and by 1.5% among overweight participants (p < 0.001) compared to their counterparts. Conclusions To conclude, gender-sensitive strategies and policies to address weight gain and dietary diversity during emergent shocks and pandemics are urgently needed in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Tayyem
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University (QU)-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar,Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan,Reema Tayyem
| | - Mohammed O. Ibrahim
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Mu'tah University, Karak, Jordan
| | | | - Majid AlKhalaf
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khlood Bookari
- National Nutrition Committee, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haleama Al Sabbah
- Department of Health Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Radwan Qasrawi
- Department of Computer Science, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine,Department of Computer Engineering, Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Somaia Dashti
- Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Sabika Allehdan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Zallaq, Bahrain
| | - Hiba Bawadi
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University (QU)-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mostafa Waly
- Food Science and Nutrition Department, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Haya Abuhijleh
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University (QU)-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fadwa Hammouh
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Sciences Faculty, American University of Madaba, Madaba, Jordan
| | - Narmeen Al-Awwad
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Nahla Al-Bayyari
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University, As-Salt, Jordan
| | - Leila Cheikh Ismail
- Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates,Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Manal Othman
- Department of Human Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University (QU)-Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Maha Hoteit
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,PHENOL Research Group (Public Health Nutrition Program Lebanon), Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebano,Lebanese University Nutrition Surveillance Center, Lebanese Food Drugs and Chemical Administrations, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,University Medical Center, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon,*Correspondence: Maha Hoteit
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