NYMC Faculty Publications

Dietary Patterns and Associated Lifestyle Factors Among University Students in Qatar

Author Type(s)

Faculty

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2021.1996374

Journal Title

Journal of American College Health

First Page

2795

Last Page

2803

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2023

Department

Surgery

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the association between university students' dietary patterns, their demographics and lifestyle in a cross-sectional study in Qatar. 370 students in eight universities in Qatar enrolled between February 2017 and February 2018. Based on a structured questionnaire, dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis, and their associations with student characteristics were assessed using logistic regression. Four dietary patterns were identified. The 'fast food' pattern was associated with being younger and male (p-values ≤ 0.1). The 'traditional diet' pattern was associated with not skipping meals or eating when bored (p-values = 0.1). The 'healthy diet' pattern was associated with regular exercise and having time to eat healthy foods (p-values ≤ 0.01). The 'protein shake' pattern was associated with being male and engaging in more vigorous physical activity (p-values ≤ 0.01). Our findings provide a roadmap for the prioritization of population-specific interventions in university students within Qatar and the region.

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