Background: In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), recent studies revealed increasing consumption of animal products and refined foods in the diet at the expense of vegetables and fruits. These dietary changes were accused of increasing the prevalence of both overweight and obesity observed among Saudi children, adolescences and adults in the last few decades. Objectives: The present study was a cross sectional study aimed at exploring the BMI distribution among students of college of Sciences and Arts for girls Khamis Mushayt Campus 1 at King Khalid University (KKU) and investigated how Dietary habits of students female affected body mass index (BMI). Methods: A total of 240 female students aged 18 - 22 years were about 25% from total students randomly chosen from college of Arts and Science Campus 1 at Khamis Mushayt, King Khalid University, KSA for the present study. A self-reported questionnaire about the student’s dietary habits was conducted and their body mass index (BMI) was measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software and Chi-square test conducted for variables. Results: About half of the students (47%) were within normal weight, 27.4% were under weight, 16% were overweight and 9.6% were categorized obese. The majority of the students reported eating meals with their family while more than half of sample (58.7%) had eating meals during watching TV. It was worth mentioning that 84.5% of students reported eating snacks such as chocolate and chips 3 or more times per week. There were no significant differences between BMI category and dietary habits. Conclusion and Recommendations: There were no significant difference between body mass index category and dietary habits. Increasing educational programs introduced healthy dietary concepts to improve the dietary habits of female students.
BMI Female Obesity Dietary Habits1. Introduction
Obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Relative excessive energy intake can of course result from excess fat intake. Because diets high in fat are usually energy dense and palatable, a diet relatively high in fat usually leads to an increase in energy intake [1] .
BMI used only for measuring obesity and using it instead of measures of body composition (e.g. percentage body fat), or body fat distribution (e.g. waist circumference or waist-hip ratio) may result in misclassification. For example, mortality was linearly associated with the ratio between fat-free body mass and body fat-mass, whereas BMI was related to mortality in a U-shaped relation [2] .
In 2013, world health organization (WHO) reported that 42 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese. Once considered as a high-income country problem, overweight and obesity are now on the rise in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. In developing countries with emerging economies (classified by the World Bank as lower- and middle-income countries), the rate of increase of childhood overweight and obesity has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries [3] .
Overweight and obesity are linked to more deaths worldwide than underweight. Most of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kill more people than underweight (this includes all high- income and most middle-income countries) [3] .
The present study is a cross sectional descriptive study aimed at exploring the BMI distribution among students of college of arts and science for girls Khamis Mushyat Campus 1 at King Khalid University (KKU) and how dietary habits of students female affect body mass index (BMI), which may be an indicator of future weight gain and estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among female students.
2. Sampling and Methods
A cross section study was conducted in college of Sciences and Arts for girls Khamis Mushyat Campus 1 at King Khalid University (KKU) of 2014. The sample size of this study was calculated based on the precision of study (Equation (1)) [4]
The students aged 18 - 22 years had participated in the study. All of the participants were Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chosen by randomly sampling method by number registration and name of student.
Data Collection
Body weight was recorded to the nearest 0.2 Kg a Digital Weight scale (Detecto) with height was recorded to the nearest 0.5 cm using the same scale, and BMI was calculated as Kg/m2. Weight was categorized according to BMI (kg)/(m)2 into, underweight (<18.5), normal (18.5 < 25), overweight (25 < 30), class I obesity (30 < 35), class II obesity (35) and class III obesity (40+). (8)
Other Data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of two sections and 15 items. Dietary habits data included: Family history of obesity, Practice Sports, Eating breakfast, No. of main meals/day, Preferred beverages, Frequency of drinking aerated beverages/day, Snacking per week, fast food per week, eating during watching TV. Social and Psychological situation data included: the availability of fast food frequently affects obesity, students feel that obesity was problem of them, Meals system, Social conditions, information about drugs used Weight Loss, the problems that caused you to obesity, describe your body, economic situation, suffering from diseases. All participants signed a consent letter before contributing in the research and were assured confidentiality.
3. Statistical Analysis
Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 17.0. The Chi-squared test was used to assess the statistical significance of the association between BMI category and other variables. p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
4. Results
Distribution of students according to BMI is presented in Figure 1. Among the students, 27.4% were underweight and 47% were classified as normal. Overweight student’s represents 16% and 9.6% were categorized obese.
Figures 2-4 show the general characteristics of the study sample the total number of study participants amounted to 240. Those who practiced exercise sometimes 58.7% of the study sample and about 38.3% had positive family history of obesity. Almost 37% not suffering from disease and 27.4%, 20.8% and 14.8% suffering from headache, diabetes and joints pain respectively.
Table 1 demonstrates dietary habits of the study participants, 60.9% of students reported eating breakfast with
Distribution of students according to body mass index
The Percentage of students according to physical exercise per day
The Percentage of students according to family history of obesity
The Percentage of students according to suffer from diseases
no significant relationship between The BMI categories and eating breakfast (p > 0.05). More than half of studied sample ( 63%) ate three meals per day, again with no significant variation between The BMI categories and Number of meals per day (p > 0.05). The majority of students preferred natural drinks (68.7%) with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between BMI categories. On the other hand Frequency of drinking aerated beverages 3 or more per week was reported by 38.3% While the frequency of eating fast foods 3 or more times per week was reported by 41.3% and 50% reported eating fast foods one and two times per week and 8.7% of the students reported never eating fast foods per week with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between BMI categories. A few number from participants reported never eating snacks (0.4%). It is worth mentioning that 84.8% of students reported eating snacks 3 or more times per week with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between BMI categories. More than half of sample had eating meals during watching TV with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between BMI categories.
Table 2 demonstrates social and Psychological situation of the study participants 63% of students feel that
Dietary Habits of the study sample (n = 240)
Variables
BMI
Chi-square tests value
p
Total
Obese
Overweight
Normal
Underweight
0.097
14.769
Eating breakfast
140 60.9%
11 4.8%
15 6.5%
73 31.7%
41 17.8%
Yes
27 11.7%
4 1.7%
5 2.2%
9 3.9
9 3.9
No
59 25.7%
7 3.0%
16 7.0%
23 10%
13 5.7%
Sometimes
4 1.7%
0 0%
1 0.4%
3 1.3%
0 0%
Frequently
Number of meals per day
0.380
9.640a
16 7.0%
1 0.4%
4 1.7%
5 2.2%
6 2.6%
Once
67 29.1%
8 3.5%
15 6.5%
28 12.2%
16 0.7%
Two
145 63.%
13 5.7%
17 7.4
74 32.2%
41 17.8%
Three
20.9%
0.0%
10.4%
10.4%
0.0%
Four
0.963
0.286a
Favorite drink
158 68.7%
15 6.5%
25 10.9%
76 33.0%
42 18.3%
Natural
72 31.3%
7 3.0%
12 5.2%
32 13.9%
21 9.1%
Soft drinks
Frequency of drinking aerated beverages /week
0.370
9.758a
66 28.7%
6 2.6%
13 5.7%
32 13.9%
15 6.5%
Once
42 18.3%
4 1.7%
7 3.0%
17 7.4%
14 6.1%
Two
88 38.3%
6 2.6%
10 4.3%
43 18.7%
29 12.6
Three and more
34 14.8%
6 2.6%
7 3.0%
16 7.0%
5 2.2%
Never
No. of times you eat fast food in the week
0.138
13.573a
66 28.7%
10 4.3%
7 3.0%
32 13.9%
17 7.4%
Once
49 21.3%
3 1.3%
6 2.6%
23 10.0%
17 7.4%
Two
95
6
17
46
26
Three and more
41.3%
2.6%
7.4%
20.0%
11.3%
20 8.7%
3 1.3%
7 3.0%
7 3.0%
3 1.3%
Never
No. of times you eat snacks in the week
0.238
11.585a
16 7.0%
2 0.9%
2 0.9%
8 3.5%
4 1.7%
Once
18 7.8%
3 1.3%
1 0.4%
12 5.2%
2 0.9%
Two
195 84.8%
17 7.4%
33 14.3%
88 38.3%
57 24.3%
Three and more
1 0.4%
0 0.0%
1 0.4%
0 0.0%
0 0.0%
Never
Eating meals during watching TV
0.750
1.211a
135 58.7%
11 4.8 %
23 10.0%
62 27.0%
39 17.0%
Yes
95 41.3%
11 4.8%
14 6.1%
46 20.0%
24 10.4%
No
Social and Psychological situation of the study sample (n = 240)
p
Chi-square Value
BMI
Variables
Total
Obese
Overweight
Normal
Underweight
0.662
1.587
Do you think that the availability of fast food frequently affects obesity
202 87.8%
21 9.1%
33 14.3%
94 40.9%
54 23.5%
Yes
28 12.2%
1 0.4%
4 1.7%
14 6.1%
9 3.9%
No
0.717
1.353
Do you feel that obesity is a problem for you
145 63.0%
12 5.2%
25 10.9%
70 30.4%
38 16.5%
Yes
85 37.0%
10 4.3%
12 5.2%
38 16.5%
25 10.9%
No
0.290
3.747
Meals system
189 82.2%
19 8.3%
28 12.2%
86 37.6%
56 24.3%
With family
41 17.8%
3 1.3%
9 3.9%
22 9.6%
7 3.0%
A lone
0.389
Social conditions
9.541
197 85.7%
21 9.1%
29 12.6%
93 40.4%
54 23.5%
With parent
21 9.1%
1 0.4%
7 3.0%
7 3.0%
6 2.6%
With mother
2 0.9%
0 0%
0 0%
2 0.9%
0 0%
With father
10 4.3%
0 0%
1 0.4%
6 2.6%
3 1.3%
Others
0.430
2.763
Do you have information about drugs used Weight Loss
43 18.7%
3 1.3%
5 2.2%
25 10.9%
10 4.3%
Yes
187 81.3%
19 8.3%
32 13.9%
83 36.1%
53 23.0%
No
0.080
What are the problems that caused you to obesity?
11.293
44 19.1%
1 0.4%
4 1.7%
29 12.6%
10 4.3%
Psychological problems
57 24.8%
9 3.9%
9 3.9%
23 10.0%
16 7.0%
Physical problems
129 56.1%
12 5.2%
24 10.4%
56 24.3%
37 16.1%
No
0.385
How would you describe your body?
9.587
26 11.3%
2 0.9%
4 1.7%
10 4.3%
10 4.3%
Appropriate
129 56.1%
17 7.4%
20 8.7%
62 27.4%
30 13.0%
Greater than appropriate
74 32.2%
3 1.3%
13 5.7%
36 15.7%
22 9.6%
Less than adequate
0.395
Economic situation
6.253
184 80.0%
20 8.7%
27 11.7%
83 36.1%
54 23.5%
Good
41 17.8%
2 0.9%
8 3.5%
23 10%
8 3.5%
Medium
5 2.2%
0 0%
2 0.99%
2 0.9%
1 0.4%
Poor
obesity was problem of them and 85.7% of students lived with parent but 4.2% of students lived with others. While 82.2% of students reported eating meals with their family. The minority of the students have information about the drugs used for weight loss (81.3%). In total, 24.8% of students reported that obesity caused physical problems and 99.6% of students described their body less than appropriate while 32.2% of participants described their body greater than appropriate. The economic situation of students was 80% good, 17.8% medium and 2.2% poor.
5. Discussion
Our study showed that female students in this study, irrespective of BMI category had some bad eating habits including skipping breakfast ad frequency of drinking aerated beverage 3 or more times per week and eating snacks such as chocolate and chips per week and watching TV during eating meals. These sorts of dietary habits for students can lead to increase body weight in the future and are likely to become regular habits for them and their families. Our findings are in agreement with other studies regarding unhealthy dietary habits of female students. During adolescence hormonal changes accelerate growth in height. Growth is faster than at any other time in the individuals postnatal life except the first year so this may negatively or positively affect the consumption of food and dietary habits which may be related to the community [5] . The current data demonstrated that more than one third was the normal body weight. Over weight students represented 16% and 9.6% were categorized obese. These findings were consistent with the results of similar studies in some countries. In Iranian male college students were only 7.9% above the normal body weight [6] . That rate decreased to 2.9% among Chinese college students with a percentage of obesity as low as 0.4 [7] . While in Lebanon, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among male college students was 37.5% and 12.5%, respectively [8] . In Kuwait the corresponding percentages were 32% and 8.9% [9] while in the united states and the united Arab Emirates overweight and obese accounted for about 35% of the male college students [10] - [12] . The results of our study showed that most of the students reported drinking aerated beverages 3 or more times per week. The majority of students eat fast foods 3 or more times per week and 84.8% of students eat snacks such as chocolate and chips 3 or more per week and more than of sample had eating meals during watching TV. These dietary habits need to be corrected to using educational programs to promote healthy eating habits in KSA. On the other hand most of students take breakfast, eat three meals per day, eat with their families, and prefer natural drinks. These habits ought to be encouraged comparing our results with equivalent studies Lebanon and China [7] [8] . This study also indicated that there is no significant difference between the social characteristics data and BMI another study reported an association between socioeconomic factors and obesity and adolescents in primary and intermediate schools [13] . It is reported that watching T during family meals is associated with poorer dietary quality among adolescents and increased TV viewing is associated with increased caloric intake, consumption of higher fat food and lower intake of fruits and vegetables [11] [14] which is in line with our results.
6. Conclusion
Our results showed that there was no significant variation between BMI category and dietary habits but the dietary habits of the female students were unhealthy and most of students ate fast food for 3 times or more per week.
7. Recommendations
Increasing educational programs introduces healthy dietary concepts to improve the dietary habits of female students.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr. Manal Ahmed Abd ElRazek, stuff and Students medical clinic for her times and effort in measuring weight and height for BMI. The authors wish to thank the students who participated in the study.
Cite this paper
Bothaina Abd ElHakeem,SraaAbu-Melha,NaneesGad,MonaAlsheri, (2015) Association between Dietary Habits and Body Mass Index to Female Students College Sciences and Arts Campus 1 at Khamis Mushayt King Khalid University. Food and Nutrition Sciences,06,1316-1323. doi: 10.4236/fns.2015.614137
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