PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Abdel-Megeid, Fadia Y.
AU  - Abdelkarem, Hala M.
AU  - El-Fetouh, Aisha M.
TI  - Unhealthy nutritional habits in university students are a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
DP  - 2011 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 621--627
VI  - 32
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/32/6/621.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/32/6/621.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2011 Jun 01; 32
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between the nutritional habits of university students with health parameters related to cardiovascular risk.METHODS: Three hundred and twelve students (180 females and 132 males; mean age 21.1 ± 2.8 years) attending King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA were randomly selected from the university register and invited to participate in the study during 2008-2009. Students who consented to participate completed a self-reported questionnaire including: nutritional screen, health habits, and lifestyle practice. Daily food consumption was recorded, and nutritional analysis was performed. Blood pressure (BP) was also measured.RESULTS: A quarter of students was found to be overweight (21%) or obese (6.5%). The percentage of overweight and obese male students was 23% and 7% compared with female students who were 19% overweight and 6% obese. There was a positive correlation between fat consumption and BMI as well as BP in both genders, between economical status and BMI (p=0.05), and between salty food and BP (p=0.05). There was a negative correlation between consumption of fiber, grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, and BMI as well as BP in both genders (p=0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that lifestyle modification is important especially in young age groups. The preventive interventions should focus not only on obesity, but also on related diseases. There is a need for strategies and coordinated efforts to reduce the tendency of overweight and obesity among college students.