Al Qauhiz Norah M
Home Economics (Nutrition and Food Sciences) Department, Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2010;85(1-2):45-59.
The remarkable economic growth in Saudi Arabia has affected the population life style negatively. The increasing problem of obesity has been reported from different regions in the kingdom. The rate of overweight and obesity reached 65.4% in the eastern region among females aged 18-74 years old. Although there is considerable amount of data on prevalence of obesity, yet, data on dietary habits and food consumption pattern are limited.
The present study is a cross- sectional descriptive study aimed at exploring the BMI distribution among university female students. Food consumption pattern and health related behaviors were also assessed.
799 students participated in the study; data were collected using self administered questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured to calculate the BMI.
Among the study participants, overweight and obesity reached 47.9%. Marriage, presence of obesity among family members, frequency of drinking aerated beverages increased the risk of obesity significantly. Misperception of body image was reported by 17.4% and 54.2% of obese and overweight students respectively. Analysis of dietary habits and life styles indicated the predominance of unhealthy behaviors.
The study results mandate the need for a national strategy to adopt healthy dietary habits and life styles.
沙特阿拉伯显著的经济增长对民众生活方式产生了负面影响。该国不同地区均报告了日益严重的肥胖问题。在东部地区，18至74岁女性的超重和肥胖率达到了65.4%。尽管有大量关于肥胖患病率的数据，但饮食习惯和食物消费模式的数据却很有限。
本研究是一项横断面描述性研究，旨在探究大学女生的体重指数（BMI）分布情况。同时还评估了食物消费模式和与健康相关的行为。
799名学生参与了本研究；数据通过自行填写问卷收集。测量体重和身高以计算BMI。
在研究参与者中，超重和肥胖率达到了47.9%。结婚、家庭成员中有肥胖者、饮用充气饮料的频率显著增加了肥胖风险。分别有17.4%的肥胖学生和54.2%的超重学生对身体形象存在错误认知。对饮食习惯和生活方式的分析表明，不健康行为占主导。
研究结果表明需要制定一项全国性战略，以采用健康的饮食习惯和生活方式。
