Musaiger Abdulrahman, Kalam Faiza
Nutrition and Health Studies Unit, Deanship of Scientific Research, University of Bahrain, and Arab Centre for Nutrition, Bahrain.
Dietetic Clinic, Damascus, Syria.
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(2):416-9. doi: 10.5604/1232-1966.1108616.
Dietary and lifestyle behaviours among adolescents are risk factors for several chronic diseases in adulthood.
To examine the differences in dietary habits and lifestyle between male and female adolescents in Syria.
A cross-sectional multi-stage stratified sampling study was carried out on adolescents, 15-18-years-old, in Damascus, Syria. The total sample selected was 365 (178 males and 187 females). Data were collected with a pretested questionnaire.
There were significant differences between males and females in the frequency of intake of vegetables, milk and dairy products, red meat, sugary beverages and fast foods. Females were more likely to skip breakfast than males (52.4% vs. 43%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Males were significantly more likely to consume larger portions of fast foods and soft drinks. Significant differences were found between genders in eating while watching television, hours using Internet, practicing physical activity and emotional eating.
A significant variation between male and female Syrian adolescents in their food habits and lifestyle was observed. Interventions should consider the gender differences to promote a healthy lifestyle for schoolchildren in Syria.
青少年的饮食习惯和生活方式行为是成年后多种慢性疾病的风险因素。
研究叙利亚青少年中男性和女性在饮食习惯和生活方式上的差异。
对叙利亚大马士革15至18岁的青少年进行了一项横断面多阶段分层抽样研究。选取的总样本为365人（178名男性和187名女性）。通过预先测试的问卷收集数据。
男性和女性在蔬菜、牛奶及奶制品、红肉、含糖饮料和快餐的摄入频率上存在显著差异。女性比男性更有可能不吃早餐（52.4%对43%），但差异无统计学意义。男性食用大量快餐和软饮料的可能性显著更高。在边看电视边吃东西、上网时长、进行体育活动和情绪化进食方面，不同性别之间存在显著差异。
观察到叙利亚青少年中男性和女性在饮食习惯和生活方式上存在显著差异。干预措施应考虑性别差异，以促进叙利亚学童的健康生活方式。
