scholarly journals Evaluation of nutritional status of foreign students at King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Mohammed A Mohammed ◽  
Ghedeir M Alshammari ◽  
Elfadil E Babiker

AbstractObjective:The current study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and associated risk factors among foreign students residing at King Saud University for different periods and to explore its correlations.Design:A cross-sectional study was conducted during the spring semester of 2018. A total of 400 male students aged 18–35 years had participated in the current study after signing a written consent form according to Helsinki Declaration.Setting:A structural questionnaire was used to collect data on daily food intake and habits and socio-economic characteristics. Nutrients of food intake were assessed using the Esha programme and compared with that of dietary requirement intake (DRI). A body composition analyser was used to measure body fat (BF), visceral fat (VF) and BMI. Spearman correlation coefficients and simple regression analysis were performed to determine associations between variables.Participants:Foreign students residing for different periods (<6 months: 200 students and >6 months: 200 students) were used as subjects.Results:The students who stayed <6 months consumed lower level of some nutrients than that of the DRI compared with those stayed >6 months. Overweight and obesity were more common among students who stayed >6 months with high values of BF and VF. Several risk factors were positively or negatively correlated with the students’ nutrition proxies.Conclusion:Most of the students who stayed >6 months are suffered from overweight. Some independent variables were found to be significantly correlated with the students’ nutrition proxies either positively or negatively.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2110012
Author(s):  
Mariane C.F. Barbosa ◽  
Caio L.B. Reis ◽  
Célia M.C.F. Lopes ◽  
Isabela R. Madalena ◽  
Erika C. Küchler ◽  
...  

Objective. To evaluate if nutritional status is associated with caries and gingivitis in Brazilian schoolchildren. Material and methods. Children of both genders, age ranging from 8 to 11 years old, were included in this study. Caries was diagnosed using ICDAS (International System for Detection and Assessment of Carious Lesions) and gingivitis was diagnosed using the Community Periodontal Index. The nutritional status of each child was defined by BMI Z-score calculation. Data on oral health behavior and dietary habit were collected through parent’s questionnaires. Parametric analyzes were performed to compare the groups. The established alpha was 5%. Results. The sample consisted of 353 schoolchildren: 16 underweight children, 247 eutrophic children, 64 overweight children, and 26 were obese children. Overweight, Obese and Overweight + Obese children presented less cavitated caries lesion than Eutrophic children ( P < .05). Gingivitis was not associated with nutritional status ( P > .05). Conclusion. Caries was associated with overweight and obesity in Brazilian schoolchildren.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2628
Author(s):  
Marius Baguma ◽  
Espoir Bwenge Malembaka ◽  
Esto Bahizire ◽  
Germain Zabaday Mudumbi ◽  
Dieudonné Bahati Shamamba ◽  
...  

This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to better understand the respective contributions of protein malnutrition and cassava-derived cyanide poisoning in the development of konzo. We compared data on nutritional status and cyanide exposure of school-age adolescent konzo-diseased patients to those of non-konzo subjects of similar age from three areas in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our results show that konzo patients had a high prevalence of both wasting (54.5%) and stunting (72.7%), as well as of cyanide poisoning (81.8%). Controls from Burhinyi and those from Idjwi showed a similar profile with a low prevalence of wasting (3.3% and 6.5%, respectively) and intermediate prevalence of stunting (26.7% and 23.9%, respectively). They both had a high prevalence of cyanide poisoning (50.0% and 63.0%, respectively), similar to konzo-patients. On the other hand, controls from Bukavu showed the lowest prevalence of both risk factors, namely chronic malnutrition (12.1%) and cyanide poisoning (27.6%). In conclusion, cassava-derived cyanide poisoning does not necessarily coexist with konzo outbreaks. The only factor differentiating konzo patients from healthy individuals exposed to cyanide poisoning appeared to be their worse nutritional status. This further suggests that, besides the known role of cyanide poisoning in the pathogenesis of konzo, malnutrition may be a key factor for the disease occurrence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
Asit Biswas ◽  
M A Rifat ◽  
Hazera Binte Sufian ◽  
MD Khurshidul Zahid

Purpose The socioeconomic conditions of urban waste collectors are vulnerable. However, their nutrition vulnerability remains undocumented. Here we focused on dietary practices and the nutritional status of waste collectors of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed that included 130 waste collectors from 15 different sites of Dhaka city. The 24-hours recall method, body mass index (BMI) and BMI for age Z-score were used to determine dietary practices and nutritional status respectively. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to observe the associations and their risk factors. Results The majority (58.5%) of the waste collectors were normal by BMI whereas 36.2%, 4.5%, and 0.8% were underweight, overweight, and obese respectively. The prevalence of underweight was higher among males and respondents less than 18-years old (P<0.001). The dietary pattern of the respondents was poor. Meals were mainly rice and vegetable-based. Consumption of meats, eggs and fruits was low. Only 18.4% and 16.92% respondents were found to consume meat and eggs at least once a day, respectively. In addition, 78.5% consumed insufficient foods in their main meals, 9.2% had skipped meals and 13.1% consumed stale food and food waste regularly. Consumption of less than three main meals a day and food of poor dietary quality were risk factors of underweight. Conclusion Findings demonstrated that waste collectors in Dhaka city had poor nutritional status which was primarily associated with inadequate dietary intake. Increased quality and quantity of food in the diet, which could be achieved through appropriate health and nutritional support, are needed to overcome the situation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Luis David Berrones Sanz ◽  
María Guadalupe de Dios Bravo ◽  
Exiquio Cesar González Peña ◽  
Victoria Alejandra Muro Báez

From the perspective of social reproduction, the focus of this study is placed on the collective practice of diet in bike taxi drivers (or rickshaws) of Mexico City’s historic downtown, analyzed as key element in a characteristic pathologic profile observed in health/disease conditions, particularly as the cause for overweight, obesity, dyslipidemias, and factors associated to metabolic syndrome. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 (90.2%) drivers. A survey was used to collect data on diet habits, working conditions and lifestyle. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were taken to analyze biochemical parameters in order to assess the subjects’ health status and establish obesity-related risk factors. The results reveal that average daily soda consumption is 1.6 liters (54 fl. oz.), an equivalent of 629 kilocalories per day. Vegetables are consumed 3.1 times per week and 65.7 kilograms (145 pounds) of corn tortillas are consumed per year. Obesity is associated to the number of years a person has been driving a bike taxi [χ2(2, N = 99) = 6.747, p = 0.034]. 69.1% is overweight or obese, 63.3% has hypertriglyceridemia and 49.1% meet three or more criteria to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). Drivers’ intake of sugary drinks and junk food is high, while recommended food intake like vegetables, fruits, legumes and white meat is low. Ongoing campaigns are recommended to promote healthy food intake, avoid sugary drinks intake and facilitate water consumption.


2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1306-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajer Aounallah-Skhiri ◽  
Habiba Ben Romdhane ◽  
Pierre Traissac ◽  
Sabrina Eymard-Duvernay ◽  
Francis Delpeuch ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the nutritional status of Tunisian adolescents and associated factors.DesignA cross-sectional study based on a national stratified random cluster sample.Subjects and methodsIn all, 1295 boys and 1577 girls aged 15–19 years, of whom 28·4 % had already left school. Socio-economic characteristics of the parents, anthropometric measurements, food behaviours and physical activity of the adolescents were recorded during home visits.ResultsPrevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity (WHO/National Center for Health Statistics reference) were, respectively, 8·1 %, 17·4 % and 4·1 % among boys and 1·3 %, 20·7 % and 4·4 % among girls; abdominal obesity was highly prevalent among both sexes. Prevalence of overweight differed by region (from 11·5 % to 22·2 %) and was higher in urban v. rural areas for males (21·7 % v. 10·4 %) but not for females (21·7 % v. 19·2 %). These differences were partially mediated by socio-economic and lifestyle factors for males. For females, influence of cultural factors is hypothesised. In rural areas, overweight was more prevalent among boys of higher economic level households, having a working mother or a sedentary lifestyle; for girls, prevalence increased with the level of education of the mother. In urban areas, prevalence of overweight was related to eating habits: it was higher for boys with irregular snacking habits and for girls skipping daily meals. Urban girls having left school were also more overweight.ConclusionOverweight and abdominal obesity in late adolescence have become a true public health problem in Tunisia with the combined effects of cultural tradition for girls in rural areas, and of rapid economic development for boys and girls in cities.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Pérez-Ros ◽  
Rafael Vila-Candel ◽  
Lourdes López-Hernández ◽  
Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau

Objective: This study aims to assess the relationship that frailty has with nutritional status and functional risk factors in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Cross-sectional study in community-dwelling older people, independent for walking and without impaired cognition. Frailty was assessed by Fried criteria. Nutritional status was analyzed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), biochemical markers (albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, lymphocytes, and hemoglobin); and anthropometric parameters (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage, handgrip, and perimeters). A comprehensive geriatric assessment analyzed other risk factors: functionality, cognition, falls, comorbidity, polypharmacy, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL). Results: We included 564 elderly people with a mean age of 76.05 (standard deviation 3.97) years; 63.1% (n = 356) were women, and 83.9% (n = 473) were prefrail, and frail. The sample presented high functionality and a nutritional status with a predominance of overweight and obesity. Factors associated with frailty (R2 = 0.43) were age over 75 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76, 6.21; p < 0.001), female gender (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.24, 4.52; p = 0.009), anemia (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.19, 5.02; p = 0.015), falls (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.12, 3.25; p = 0.016) and the fear of falling (OR 4.01: 95% CI 1.76, 9.16; p = 0.001). Performing more than 3 weekly hours of physical activity was found to be a protective factor (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.15, 0.35; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The relationship between frailty and malnutrition in functionally independent community-dwelling older people is unclear. More studies are needed to know what nutritional markers are related to frailty, cognition, and functionality in order to discriminate the risk factors for community-dwelling older people at risk of malnutrition and dependency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prajjwal Pyakurel ◽  
Deepak Kumar Yadav ◽  
Jeevan Thapa ◽  
Nishant Thakur ◽  
Pramita Sharma ◽  
...  

Background: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in developing region. It has also been recognized as one of the major public health problems in the developing countries since the early seventies and the rate is increasing not only in urban areas but in rural areas with low socio-economic condition.  Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Jogidaha Village Development Comittee(VDC) and Triyuga Municipality of Udaypur district of South-Eastern Nepal. A total of 430 participants of age 18-59 years were selected. Semi-structured questionnaire (WHO NCD STEPS instrument) was used to collect information on demographic variables and associated risk factors with use of show cards. Clinical and anthropometric measurement were done. Primary outcome was prevalence of hypertension. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed to show strength of association among various risk factors with hypertension.  Results: The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 25.1%. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 49.8%. Hypertension was significantly associated with age (AOR=1.09, CI=1.05-1.10) and gender (male >female; AOR= 2.12,CI =1.22-3.68). Similarly, increased waist-hip ratio(7.12; CI 2.87-17.67),alcohol consumption(OR=2.82,CI=1.77-4.52), and use of tobacco products (OR =1.8,CI=1.02-3.20) showed significant association with hypertension. Conclusion: There is high prevalence of hypertension in rural districts of South-Eastern Nepal. A community-based preventive approach with early detection and treatment and life-style modification is needed to reduce the burden of disease and make sustainable changes. 


Author(s):  
Neha Goyal

Background: Adolescence is a nutritionally vulnerable period for a number of specific reasons, including high requirements for growth, eating patterns and lifestyles, risk-taking behaviour and, susceptibility to social and environmental influences. The objectives of the study were to compare the nutritional status of rural and urban school going adolescent girls by anthropometric measurements.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in urban as well as rural schools of Haldwani block of district Nainital from October 2012 to September 2014. Multistage random sampling was used to select the requisite number, 770 (443 rural and 327 urban) of school going adolescent girls of 10 to 19 years of age, who were interviewed and anthropometric measurements were recorded for assessing the nutritional status. WHO 2007 growth standards for 5-19 years old for girls was followed. Height-for-age Z scores and BMI-for-age Z scores were calculated with help of WHO Anthro Plus Software version 1.0.4. Data was analysed using SPSS v.20.Results: Mean weight and mean BMI of adolescent girls in urban area was significantly higher than those in rural area, while mean height in two groups was not significantly different. Mean height-for-age and the mean BMI-for-age of the study girls was below median of the 2007 WHO reference throughout the adolescent period.Conclusions: Thinness was significantly higher in rural girls while overweight and obesity was not significantly different in rural and urban girls. 


Author(s):  
Prashant R. Kokiwar ◽  
P. Yadu Vamshi Reddy ◽  
P. Nikitha ◽  
P. Rajitha ◽  
P. Nissi Angeline ◽  
...  

Background: Under nourished adolescent girls are more likely to give birth to malnourished child when they become pregnant and deliver. Hence their nutritional status is of much more importance. Objectives were to study the nutritional status of adolescent girls, to study the correlates and determinants of nutritional status and compare it between government and private schools.Methods: A school based cross sectional study was carried out for a period of three months. This study was comparative in nature, comparing the adolescent girls from government and private schools. It was possible to study 74 and 97 adolescent girls from government and private schools respectively. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standard guidelines.Results: There were only 4 cases (5.4%) of underweight and only 3 cases (4.1%) in government school. Similarly there was only one case (1.03%) of underweight and only 7 (7.2%) of the cases in the private school. The mean height was significantly less among the children from government school compared to the private school. But there was no difference between the mean weight and BMI of children from two schools.Conclusions: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was low in the present study. It was not found to be associated with education and occupation of parents and type of family.


Author(s):  
Thi Tuyet Le ◽  
Thi Thuy Dung Le ◽  
Nam Khanh Do ◽  
V. Savvina Nadezhda ◽  
M. Grjibovski Andrej ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Vietnam is a multiethnic country undergoing rapid economic development, the improvement in nutritional status in preschool children is not equally shared by all ethnic groups; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from September–December 2018 on 16,177 children aged 24–60 months representing Kinh (n = 14421), Muong (n = 1307) and Tay (n = 449) ethnic groups. Prevalence of malnutrition, overweight, obesity and anthropometric indices were compared across ethnic groups, using WHO 2006 child growth standards; (3) Results: The prevalence of malnutrition among children of Kinh, Muong and Tay origins was 14.7%, 34.3% and 43.2%, respectively. The corresponding data for overweight was 5.5%, 2.7%, 2.2% and for obesity 2.8%, 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting remained the highest in three subtypes of malnutrition in all ethnic groups. Kinh children were heavier and taller than the other groups, while Muong children were taller than Tay children (p-value < 0.001); and (4) Conclusions: Malnutrition remains a major public health issue among children of minor ethnicities while overweight and obesity is an emerging challenge for the Kinh ethnic group. The results imply that a community-based intervention should be specific to ethnicity to reduce the gap in nutritional status between ethnic groups in Vietnam.


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