Dietary Patterns and its Associations with Body Mass Index among Saudi University Students. A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

  • Rama M. Chandika
  • Fatima A. Elfaki
  • Abdulrahman A. Alsayegh
  • Husameldin E. Khalafalla
  • Faisal M. Alfaifi
  • Khaled M. Dhamry
  • Rola O. Hakami
  • Nuha M. Hantul
  • Nouf H. Alfaifi
  • Hussin M. Hadi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.3438

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease characterized by the accumulation of excess body fat, leading to adverse health outcomes. Over the past four decades, Saudi Arabia has experienced significant economic growth, leading to shifts in lifestyle and dietary habits, especially among young adults.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the dietary patterns and their relationship with body mass index among university students.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students using a pretested self-designed questionnaire encompassing 103 common Saudi food items. Ethical approval was obtained from the standing committee for scientific research of Jazan University. Data were coded, validated, and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed, and scree plot was used to delineate the predominant dietary patterns. The association between identified dietary patterns and BMI was assessed using regression analysis and generalized additive models. A two-tailed P-value of < 0.05 was set as the threshold for statistical significance.
Results: Four distinct dietary patterns emerged among university students: 1) a Western diet, accounting for 20.114% of the variance, characterized by high factor loadings of fast foods, fried items, snacks, soda drinks, and sweets; 2) a traditional diet, representing 18.058% of the variance, predominantly consisting of milk and milk products, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, potatoes, and traditional Saudi dishes; 3) a prudent diet, comprising 12.186% of the variance, marked by significant consumption of fruits, legumes, vegetables, and nuts; and 4) a high-protein/high-fat diet, accounting for 9.061% of the variance, associated with the intake of meat, chicken, fish and seafood, eggs, and processed meats. The western diet showed a significant association with an increased risk of obesity, whereas prudent diet was linked to a reduced risk. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the potential benefits of restriction western pattern and promoting prudent dietary pattern to help curtail the obesity epidemic in the studied population.

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Published

2025-01-11

How to Cite

Chandika, R. M., Elfaki , F. A., Alsayegh, A. A., Khalafalla, H. E., Alfaifi, F. M., Dhamry, K. M., Hakami, R. O., Hantul , N. M., Alfaifi , N. H., & Hadi, H. M. (2025). Dietary Patterns and its Associations with Body Mass Index among Saudi University Students. A Cross-Sectional Study . South Eastern European Journal of Public Health, 369–382. https://doi.org/10.70135/seejph.vi.3438

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