Fast food consumption and increased body mass index as risk factors for weight gain and obesity in Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Bakr Shori ◽  
Mai Albaik ◽  
Fardos M. Bokhari
BMJ Open ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. e005813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Braithwaite ◽  
Alistair W Stewart ◽  
Robert J Hancox ◽  
Richard Beasley ◽  
Rinki Murphy ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 780-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherri Bisset ◽  
Lise Gauvin ◽  
Louise Potvin ◽  
Gilles Paradis

AbstractObjectivesTo describe patterns of dietary behaviours specific to low quality snacking, fruit and vegetable, and fast food consumption during the transition from childhood to adolescence and to examine how these behaviours are associated with tendencies towards dietary restraint and the occurrence of overweight and obesity in mid-adolescence.DesignA 5-year follow-up of self-reported eating. Hierarchical linear modelling was utilised to explore the relationship between dietary changes and body mass index (BMI) and dietary restraint while controlling for physical activity and smoking.SettingThe sample was derived from students participating in the Quebec Heart Health Demonstration Project, and represents rural, suburban and inner city youths.SubjectsA sample of 561 girls and 627 boys in the fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth grades.ResultsOverall the sample was characterised by a decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption and increase in low quality snacking, and a decrease in fast food consumption over the 5-year follow-up. Dietary restraint and BMI were found to be associated with dietary behaviour. Lower than average dietary restraint was associated with a lower frequency of fast food consumption and greater increase in low quality snacking over the 5-year period. Higher than average dietary restraint was associated with lesser frequency of low quality snacking at baseline. Having a BMI in the obese range was associated with more frequent fast food consumption in the fourth grade and a more rapid drop in fast food consumption across the 5-year period.ConclusionsDietary behaviours are associated with the psychological construct dietary restraint and with weight status in this population of adolescents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Malay Kumar Das ◽  
Rabindranath Sinha ◽  
Aparajita Dasgupta

Introduction: The World Health Organization has already warned of increasing non-communicable diseases among adolescents as a major public health problem. The importance of this age group also lies in the fact that many serious diseases in adulthood have their roots in adolescence. Method: A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used in class-room setting to collect information from students regarding presence of risk factors of non-communicable diseases. The respondents were also subjected to anthropometric measurements and blood pressure examination using standard operating procedures. Results: A total of 761 students of class VI-XII participated in the study of which 61.4% were boys and rests were girls. High blood pressure among boys and girls were 19.9% and 22.1% were respectively. In Bivariate analysis age > 15 years (median) (OR= 2.11), fast food intake (>3 times/week) (OR= 1.66), Alcohol consumption (OR= 2.22), less physical activity (OR=1.54), increased body mass index (OR=2.53), significantly associated with high blood pressure. In Multivariate analysis age (AOR= 2.25), fast food intake (AOR= 1.50), Alcohol consumption (OR= 2.23), less physical activity (AOR=1.71), increased body mass index (AOR=2.42) remains significant predictor. Conclusion: Detecting the risk factors of high blood pressure prevalent in the population is of utmost importance to achieve a healthy population. Formulation and dissemination of need--based, culturally acceptable and age appropriate scientific messages for school students should be conducted more proactively. Keywords: Adolescents, Blood pressure, Risk factor, Rural school.


Author(s):  
Ahmad H. Alghadir ◽  
Zaheen A. Iqbal ◽  
Sami A. Gabr

Background: Adolescents and ethnic subgroups have been identified at high risks of overweight and its associated complications. Although some studies have investigated overweight, obesity, nutritional status, physical activity, and associated factors among Saudi students, no studies have examined these characteristics among non-Saudi students or compared non-Saudi to Saudi adolescent students. The objective of this study was to compare differences between Saudi and non-Saudi adolescent students regarding time spent watching television, using computers, engaging in physical activity, and their food preferences. The relationships between these lifestyle behaviors and body mass index by Saudi nativity and gender were tested. Methods: Students aged 12 to 18 years (n = 214) from various schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, completed a self-administered questionnaire that included questions about demographic and anthropometric characteristics, daily after-school routine, physical activity, watching television, using computers, and food preferences. Non-parametric (Mann–Whitney U) tests assessed the statistical differences between Saudi and non-Saudi respondents, and males and females were separately tested. Results: Saudi boys who reported physical activity two to five times per week, the most television time, the most computer time, and the highest frequency of eating fast food and drinking soft drinks had a significantly higher mean body mass index than the non-Saudi boys in their categories. However, there were no significant differences found between the Saudi and non-Saudi girls. Conclusions: High levels of sedentary and low levels of physical activities as well as high consumption of high-fat fast foods and high-sugar drinks threaten the health of Saudi adolescents. Cultural differences in lifestyle between Saudi and non-Saudi families should be considered when developing programs to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding diet quality and physical activity. The objective of this study is more important in the current situation where increased time spent on computers and mobile phones due to online teaching in schools or working from home, decreased physical activity due to precautionary lockdowns, and unchecked eating patterns while spending more time in sedentary activities in homes has become our COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle in all the age groups. A similar study should be replicated on a large scale to study the effect of this lifestyle on our lives in all the age groups.


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