The Association Between Dietary Patterns and Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Characteristics: A Sample of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Dietary intake is an important risk factor that contributes to the development or prevention of many health conditions. The objective of the current study was to identify different dietary patterns and its relation to socio-demographic and life-style characteristics. A cross-sectional study of 299 Saudi adults, aged between 35-65 years without any significant health problems. Participants were interviewed individually and completed a pre-designed questionnaire with close-ended questions including socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Dietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by a trained nurse in the clinic. Factor analysis technique was used to derive different food patterns. Five dietary patterns were identified, namely: sweet & starch, date & coffee, healthy, traditional, and protein patterns. Following sweet & starch pattern was significantly correlated to male gender, frequently visiting fast food restaurants and breakfast consumption behavior. Adherence to healthy pattern was associated with male gender, higher education with high income, older adults, breakfast consumption behavior and high levels of physical activity. Traditional pattern was correlated with married subjects and male gender, whereas compliance to date & coffee pattern was related to reduced number of meals and snacks. The protein pattern was significantly associated with younger age and breakfast consumption behavior. Dietary patterns were influenced by socio-demographic characteristic (age, gender, marital status, education level, income) and other lifestyle factors (breakfast consumption, number of meals, physical activity). A national cohort study is needed to assess the association between dietary patterns with the risk of cardiometabolic dysregulation.