Assessing Eating Habits, Physical Activity, and Nutritional Knowledge among Female Adolescents in Saudi Arabia
Published: 02-05-2023
Page: 166-180
Issue: 2023 - Volume 2 [Issue 3]
Azzah Alsheweir *
Applied Medical Sciences College, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Studies on the health and nutrition of the Saudi population, especially those of children and adolescents, are limited. Assessing Saudi adolescents in relation to essential nutrition concepts is needed. This study examined nutrition related variables and evaluated factors influencing the eating habits of Saudi adolescent girls. It compared nutrition and lifestyle between two distinct locations in Saudi Arabia. A validated dietary questionnaire was given to 291 adolescent females students (aged 14-18 years) attending intermediate and high schools. The mean age for the sample was 14.6 ± 3.5 years. The majority of females were considered within normal weight (60%). Eating habits were significantly healthier among Al-Khobar females compared to Riyadh females (P = 0.028). Similarly, females from Al-Khobar reported being more physically active (P = 0.002) with higher self-efficacy (P = 0.049) compared with females from Riyadh. No significant differences were found among BMI categories. Bivariate correlation analyses found that eating habits were correlated with self-efficacy (P < 0.001) and knowledge of healthy dietary habits (P = 0.001) but were not associated with nutrition knowledge (P = 0.09). A linear regression model demonstrated that predictors—location (P = 0.028), self-efficacy (P < 0.001), and knowledge of healthy dietary habits (P = 0.008)—explained 12.8% of the variance. Location, self-efficacy, and knowledge of healthy dietary habits were significant predictors relating to eating habits. Educational strategies to improve nutrition and physical activity are needed to help female adolescents achieve lifelong healthy eating and active lifestyle behaviors.
Keywords: Eating habits, physical activity, adolescents, nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, Saudi Arabia
How to Cite
Downloads
References
World Health Organization. Facts Sheets of Overweight and Obesity. Available:http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/. March 2013.
Maziak W, Ward KD, Stockton MB. Childhood obesity: are we missing the big picture? Obes Rev. 2008;9(1):35-42.
El-Hazmi MA, Warsy AS. The prevalence of obesity and overweight in 1-18-year-old Saudi children. Ann Saudi Med. 2002;22(5-6):303-7.
Abalkhail B. Overweight and obesity among Saudi Arabian children and adolescents between 1994 and 2000. East Mediterr Health J. 2002;8(4-5:470-9.
El Mouzan MI, Foster PJ, Al Herbish AS, Al Salloum AA, Al Omer AA, Qurachi MM, Kecojevic T. Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi children and adolescents. Ann Saudi Med. 2010;30(3):203 8.
Fleming-Moran M, Thiagarajah K. Behavioral interventions and the role of television in the growing epidemic of adolescent obesity-data from the 2001 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey. Methods Inf Med. 2005;44(2):303-9.
Croezen S, Visscher TL, Ter Bogt NC, Veling ML, Haveman-Nies A. Skipping breakfast, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity as risk factors for overweight and obesity in adolescents: results of the E-MOVO project. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(3):405-12.
Brown CM, Dulloo AG, Montani JP. Sugary drinks in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32(Suppl 6):S28-34.
Iannotti RJ, Wang J. Patterns of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet in U.S. adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2013;53(2):280-6.
Al-Rethaiaa AS, Fahmy AE, Al-Shwaiyat NM.Obesity and eating habits among college students in Saudi Arabia: a cross sectional study. Nutr J. 2010;9:39.
Amin TT, Al-Sultan AI, Ali A. Overweight and obesity and their relation to dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics among male primary school children in Al-Hassa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Eur J Nutr. 2008;47(6):310-8.
Al-Hazzaa HM, Abahussain NA, Al-Sobayel HI, Qahwaji DM, Musaiger AO. Physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents relative to age, gender and region. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011;8:140.
Troiano RP, Flegal KM. Overweight children and adolescents: description, epidemiology, and demographics. Pediatrics. 1998;101(3 Pt 2):497-504.
Goran MI, Treuth MS. Energy expenditure, physical activity, and obesity in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001;48(4):931-53.
Robinson TN, Killen J. Obesity prevention for children and adolescents. In: Thompson J, Smolak L, eds. Body image, eating disorders and obesity in youth: assessment, prevention and treatment. 2001;261-292.
Al-Hazzaa H, Sulaiman M, Al-Mobaireek K, Al-Attass O. Prevalence of coronary artery disease risk factors in Saudi children. Journal of the Saudi Heart Association 1993;5:126-133.
Musaiger A: Food Consumption Patterns in Eastern Mediterranean Countries. Manamah: Arab Center for Nutrition; 2011.
Al-Hazzaa HM: Physical activity, fitness and fatness among Saudi children and adolescents: implications for cardiovascular health. Saudi Med J. 2002;23:144-150.
Melnyk BM, Small L, Morrison-Beedy D, Strasser A, Spath L, Kreipe R, Crean H, Jacobson D, Kelly S, O'Haver J. The cope healthy lifestyles teen program: Feasibility, preliminary efficacy, & lessons learned from an after school group intervention with overweight adolescents. J Pediatr Health Care. 2007;21(5):315-22.
Horikawa C, Kodama S, Yachi Y, Heianza Y, Hirasawa R, Ibe Y, Saito K, Shimano H, Yamada N, Sone H. Skipping breakfast and prevalence of overweight and obesity in Asian and Pacific regions: a meta-analysis. Prev Med. 2011;53(4-5):260-7.
Musaiger A: Overweight and Obesity in the Arab Countries: the Need for Action. Bahrain Center for Studies and Research. Bahrain; 2007.
Al-Nuaim AA, Al-Nakeeb Y, Lyons M, Al-Hazzaa HM, Nevill A, Collins P, Duncan MJ. The Prevalence of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours Relative to Obesity among Adolescents from Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: Ruralversus Urban Variations. J Nutr Metab. 2012;2012: 417589.
Banduras A, Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review. 1977;84(2):191-215
Ajzen, I. The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 1991;50:179-211.
Prochaska JO, Norcross JC, Fowler J, Follick MJ, Abrams DB. Attendance and outcome in a worksite weight control program: Processes and stages of change as process and predictor variables. Addictive Behaviors. 1992;17:35-45.
Schwarzer R. Self-efficacy in the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors: Theoretical approaches and a new model. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.), Self-efficacy: Thought control of action. Washington, DC: Hemisphere. 1992;217-243.
Schwarzer, R, Luszczynska, A. Perceived Self-Efficacy. Health Behavior Constructs: Theory, Measurement, and Research; 2008. Available:http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/constructs/self-efficacy/self-efficacy.pdf
Hussein RA. Can knowledge alone predict vegetable and fruit consumption among adolescents? A transtheoretical model perspective. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2011;86(5-6):95-103.
Oldewage-Theron, Wilna, H., and Abdulkadir Egal. Impact Of Nutrition Education On Nutrition Knowledge Of Public School Educators In South Africa: A Pilot Study. Health SA Gesondheid. 2012;17(1):1-8.
Wardle J, Parmenter K, Waller J. Nutrition knowledge and food intake. Appetite. 2000;34(3):269-75.
Al-Almaie S. Knowledge of healthy diets among adolescents in eastern Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 2005;25(4):294-8.
Al-shoshan AA. Some sociodemographic factors influencing the nutritional awareness of the Saudi teens and adults: Preliminary observations. J R Soc Health. 1990;110(6):213-6.
Miller, David. Saudi Arabia opens world’s largest women’s university. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
Ouda Omar K M, Towards Assessment of Saudi Arabia Public Awareness of Water Shortage Problem, Resources and Environment. 2013;3(1):10-13.
Turconi Giovanna, Marianna Guarcello, MD, Laura Maccarini, PhD, Federica Cignoli, MD, Stefania Setti, MD, Rosella Bazzano, Carla Roggi. Eating Habits and Behaviors, Physical Activity, Nutritional and Food Safety Knowledge and Beliefs in an Adolescent Italian Population. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2008;27(1)31–43.
Turconi G, Celsa M, Rezzani C, Biino G, Sartirana MA, Roggi C: Reliability of dietary questionnaire on food habits, eating behaviours and nutritional knowledge of adolescents. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003;57:753–763.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Children's BMI Tool for Schools. Page last reviewed: November 30; 2011. Available:http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/tool_for_schools.html
Abalkhail B, Shawky S. Prevalence of daily breakfast intake, iron deficiency anaemia and awareness of being anaemic among Saudi school students. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2002;53(6):519-28.
Al-Sudairy A, Howard K. Dietary habits of technical and vocational students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--I. Meal skipping. J R Soc Health. 1992;112(5):217-8.
Farghaly NF, Ghazali BM, Al-Wabel HM, Sadek AA, Abbag FI. Life style and nutrition and their impact on health of Saudi school students in Abha, Southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2007;28(3):415-21.
Musaiger AO. Food composition tables for the Arab gulf countries. Bahrain, Arab Center for Nutrition; 2006.
Eaton DK, Kann L, Kinchen S, Shanklin S, Ross J, Hawkins J, Harris WA,Lowry R, McManus T, Chyen D, Lim C, Whittle L, Brener ND, Wechsler H: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2010;59(5):1-142.
Khatib O. Non-communicable diseases: Risk factors and regional strategies for prevention and care. East Mediterr Health J. 2004;10(6):778-88.
Al-Hazzaa HM, Al-Nakeeb Y, Duncan MJ, Al-Sobayel HI, Abahussain NA, Musaiger AO, Lyons M, Collins P, Nevill A. A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Health Behaviors between Saudi and British Adolescents Living in Urban Areas: Gender by Country Analyses. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(12):6701-20.
Taveras EM, Field AE, Berkey CS, Rifas-Shiman SL, Frazier AL, Colditz GA, Gillman MW: Longitudinal relationship between television viewing and leisure-time physical activity during adolescence. Pediatrics. 2007;119(2): 314-319.
Holli BB, Calabrese RJ, Maillet JO. Communication and education skills for dietetics professionals. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 4th ed. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003.
Rod K Dishman, Robert W Motl, Ruth Saunders, Gwen Felton, Dianne S Ward, Marsha Dowda, Russell R Pate. Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine. 2004;38(5):628-636.
Glasofer DR, Haaga DA, Hannallah L, Field SE, Kozlosky M, Reynolds J, Yanovski JA, Tanofsky-Kraff M. Self-efficacy beliefs and eating behavior in adolescent girls at-risk for excess weight gain and binge eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord. 2013;46(7):663-8.
Chilton JM, Haas BK, Gosselin KP. The effect of a wellness program on adolescent females. West J Nurs Res. 2013.
Adolescent Medicine Committee, Canadian Pediatric Society. Eating disorders in adolescents: Principles of diagnosis and treatment. Pediatric and Child Health. 1998;3(3):189-11.
Madani KAH, Al-Amoudi NS, Kumosani TA. The state of nutrition in Saudi Arabia. Nutr Health 2000;14(1):17-31.
Mahfouz AA, Shatoor AS, Khan MY, Daffalla AA, Mostafa OA, Hassanein MA. Nutrition, physical activity, and gender risks for adolescent obesity in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Gastroenterol. 2011;17(5):318-22.
Abahussain NA, Musaiger AO, Nicholls PJ, Stevens R. Nutritional status of adolescent girls in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Nutr Health. 1999;13(3):171-7.
Al-Dossary SS, Sarkis PE, Hassan A, Ezz El Regal M, Fouda AE. Obesity in Saudi children: a dangerous reality. East Mediterr Health J. 2010;16(9):1003-8.
Janssen I, Katzmarzyk PT, Boyce WF, Vereecken C, Mulvihill C, Roberts C, Currie C, Pickett W, Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Obesity Working Group: Comparison of overweight and obesity prevalence in school-aged youth from 34 countries and their relationships with physical activity and dietary patterns. Obes Rev. 2005;6:123-132.
Al- Hazzaa HM, Abahussain NA, Al-Sobayel HI, Qahwaji DM, Musaiger AO. Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents. BMC Public Health. 2012; 12:354.
Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D, French S. Individual and environmental influences on adolescent eating behaviors. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102(3 Suppl):S40-51.
AbuSabha R, Achterberg C. Review of self-efficacy and locus of control for nutrition- and health-related behavior. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997;97(10): 1122-32.
Glasofer DR, Haaga DA, Hannallah L, Field SE, Kozlosky M, Reynolds J, Yanovski JA, Tanofsky-Kraff M. Self-efficacy beliefs and eating behavior in adolescent girls at-risk for excess weight gain and binge eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord. 2013;46(7):663-8.
Croll JK, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M. Healthy eating: what does it mean to adolescents? J Nutr Educ. 2001;33(4): 193-8.
Kosendiak A, Stanikowski P, Domagała D, Gustaw W, Bronkowska M. Dietary Habits, Diet Quality, Nutrition Knowledge, and Associations with Physical Activity in Polish Prisoners: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(3):1422.
Bonofiglio D. Mediterranean diet and physical activity as healthy lifestyles for human health. Nutrients. 2022;14(12): 2514.