30Sep 2017

FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH OBESITY AMONG FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AL-MEDINA AL-MUNWARAH , SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

  • Nutrition and food science Department, College of Family science, Taibah University, Al-Medina Al-Munwarah , Saudi Arabia.
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Nowadays, Fast food consumption seem to be usual among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Such a situation is an alarming increase in the prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancer which are estimated to account for 78% of all deaths. This study was done to assess the awareness of health hazards, consumption pattern of fast foods and to find out its association with obesity among college students. This cross-sectional study was done among 100 students enrolled in the division of home economics and technical education at the Educational College preparatory of female teachers in Al-Medina Al-Munwarah during the second term from (1429-1430). Subjects were 19 years and up, and completed an initial questionnaire to determine the prevalence of consumption of fast food. All of the female student participants in this study answered the questions in specific questionnaire to allow us to understand better their dietary habits. Results indicates that the presence of the highest increase weight ratio according to the body mass index (B.M.I) which was found in student girls as (37.9%), which the ratio of what described as obesity state (B.M.I =30 or above) the highest in student is (17.02%). It was observed that 1.41% were likely to be diabetic (with blood glucose levels 6.08-7.2 mmol/l) whom consumed fast food more than three times a week, 98.8 %in the uncertain group (blood glucose were normal levels 4.6-6.9 mmol/l). Students consuming fast food two times or less had normal levels of plasma cholesterol as well triglyceride. This resulted in no change in the cholesterol and triglyceride, the plasma lipid response to consumption of fast food three times or more was also as expected. Cholesterol levels were increased in only 1.34% of group 2, and triglycerides levels were increased by fast food consumption in 1.12% of group 2. In conclusion, our investigation suggests that fast food consumption among students affects diet quality in ways that would plausibly increase risk for obesity, regardless of baseline body weight. public health measures to limit fast food consumption in students may be warranted. Such measures could include nutrition education campaigns, legislation to regulate marketing of fast food to students, and elimination of fast food from Colleges.


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[Nermin Nagah Elnashar and Suha Hashim Abduljawad. (2017); FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH OBESITY AMONG FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AL-MEDINA AL-MUNWARAH , SAUDI ARABIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (Sep). 1478-1487] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com


Dr. Suha Hashim Abduljawad


DOI:


Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/5470      
DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/5470