Body composition, blood pressure and dietary habits among young qatari male adults

Abstract

Introduction: Due to a rapidly changing lifestyle in Qatar, determinants of non-communicable diseases and linked levels of risk factors have risen. These facts pose a national challenge (1). Information about Qatari adults` (19-30yr.) dietary habits is essential because of the increase in the incidence and prevalence of obesity in Qataris. In 2006, the percentage of Qatari boys who are overweight and obese is 28.6%, and 7.9%, respectively (3). Aim of this study was to determine body composition, blood pressure and dietary habits of the next cohort, those 18-29 yrs old. Methods: 80 Qatari male students, 18-29 yrs of age, from Qatar University (QU) participated. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by Omron HEM-780, body composition (body weight and percent of body fat (BF), were measured by OMRON BF-400. Dietary habits were evaluated using the NHANES Food Frequency Questionnaire. For data analysis, Chi-square test and univariate analyses of variance were conducted using SPSS version 20. Results: The mean systolic and diastolic BP was 128.6±1.42 mmHg, 73.32±1.1 mmHg, respectively. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was 91.74±1.06 mmHg. The mean BF is 23.79±1.19%. 30.77% of the subjects were classified as overweight, 38.46% as obese. The crosstab statistical analyses yielded a difference between fast food (FF) vs. seafood (SF) consumptions (p=.007). No statistical difference between vegetables consumption vs. pasta intake occur. However, the subjects` soda consumption was greater than fruit juices (p=.05). The BF is expressed by an interaction between salad and SF consumption, p=.047, ηp2=.409, but these main effects are not qualified by a separate interaction on BF (p=.234, ηp2=.181 vs. p=.34, ηp2=.149, respectively). No interaction was found between FF, SF or sweets and blood pressure values. Conclusion: Obesity is uniformly considered to be the most important factor in developing non-communicable diseases in Qatar (2). Our study supports the results. In our sample, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher compared to previously published studies. No correlation between dietary habits and MAP occurred though, due to the wide range of nutrients consumed. High caloric diets are prevalent among QU students.