The Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Weight Loss for Overweight and Obese Men and Woman in Saudi Arabia

There was a growing prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia during the last two decades. Therefore, many types of diets had spread for weight loss. The intermittent fasting diet has gained great popularity among Arabs due to ease of following, and there is no limit to any nutrients. This study was designed to investigate the effect of intermittent fasting diet on body weight in overweight and obese adults in Saudi Arabia. The sample was between 18-40 years old. The questionnaire was about personal information, general information about intermittent fasting diet, types of diet, and the intermittent fasting diet to identify people's knowledge around the positive impact of the intermittent fasting diet on weight loss. Results showed that 321 out of the participants had physical activity, and there were no changes in their usual dietary patterns. Also, the results showed that participants were aware of the intermittent fasting diet, and most of them aware of its effectiveness in weight reduction. Almost half of the participants followed other types of diets to weight loss such as ketogenic diet. The results revealed that 146 participants of 340 were following the intermittent fasting diet, most of whom received the benefit after following the diet (weight loss), but there were some side effects such as headaches and hair loss. In conclusion, intermittent fasting diet was prevalent among Arabs because of their habituation towards it. It was found useful and effective in weight loss. There is a need for food education intervention for those who follow the diet, should not only follow the diet but be attentive to the basic elements that the body needs

Malnutrition is associated with increased disease risk in older people in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

IntroductionThere is little research on the nutritional status of older people in Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the factors associated with the nutritional status of older people in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia. We hypothesized that older people who are at risk of malnutrition are at higher risk of different diseases.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study surveyed 271 people aged ≥60 years from October 2021 to January 2022. We collected data on demographics, body mass index, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Eating Attitudes Test, and Household Dietary Diversity score.ResultsAmong the 271 participants, 13.3% were malnourished and 53.9% were at risk of malnutrition. The oral health (P < 0.001), depression (P < 0.001), and eating disorder (P < 0.002) scores were significantly associated with malnutrition. Congestive heart failure, asthma, peripheral vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and hypertension were more prevalent among malnourished participants—this supports our original hypothesis. The HDD score showed no significant differences between men and women.ConclusionMalnutrition was associated with overweight or obesity, poor oral health, and depression. Older people in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia, had a high risk of malnutrition

Effect of Camel Milk on the Physicochemical, Rheological, and Sensory Qualities of Bread

An increase in bread production has been achieved to meet the increasing demand of the growing population. During the manufacturing process, refined wheat flour, the main ingredient for bread making, loses its nutritional qualities. Hence, it is necessary to use additional nutritional sources to maintain nutritional value. In this study, the rheological, physicochemical, and sensory qualities of bread, prepared using camel milk and water, were evaluated. The increase in the camel milk content resulted in the significant increase in the protein, oil, and ash contents of bread and a decrease in the carbohydrate content. The protein content was increased from 11.95% (100% water) to 14.01% (100% camel milk). The use of camel milk resulted in the progressive increase in the content of two essential fatty acids, α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid (P<0.05; maximum increase: 1.65% and 20.9%, resp.). The rheological properties of bread (peak viscosity, gelatinisation temperature, and water absorption capacity) could be improved using camel milk. However, reduced dough stability and peak viscosity–temperature were also observed. The increase in the water absorption capacity from 61% to 67% indicated that the supplemented dough was more suitable than the original dough for preparing bread. The physical properties of bread prepared using camel milk (30%) and water (70%) were better than the properties of the control bread sample. Improved sensory attributes were observed under these formulation conditions. Bread containing ≥70% camel milk received lower sensory scores. The results indicated that the use of the formulation consisting of camel milk (30%) and water (70%) could enhance the nutritional value of bread without significantly affecting the acceptability. The results can provide a platform for extending the application of camel milk, primarily used to produce fermented milk, in the food industry. It could be potentially used to address the global problem of acute malnutrition

The Potential Effects of Dietary Antioxidants in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Obesity has become a global health concern, with its prevalence steadily increasing in recent decades. It is associated with numerous health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The aetiology of obesity is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. In recent years, oxidative stress has emerged as a potential contributor to obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Dietary antioxidants, which can counteract oxidative stress, have gained significant attention for their potential role in preventing and managing obesity. This comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of dietary antioxidants on obesity and its associated metabolic dysregulations, discussing the underlying mechanisms and highlighting the potential therapeutic implications

Association of two types of dietary pattern scores with cardiovascular disease risk factors and serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D levels in Saudi Arabia

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a main cause of mortality and disability worldwide. One of the key factors in the soaring prevalence of CVD globally has been nutrition transitions and changes in dietary patterns. Objective: This study investigated the association between two diet scores, namely, a high-fat dietary (HFD) pattern score and a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) score, and CVD risk factors (obesity, hypertension, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) and serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. Methods: Three hundred twenty-one participants were included in this study. Fasting blood tests were collected from all participants for biochemical measurements. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also taken. A validated, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ dietary intake. Dietary scores for the HFD pattern were calculated based on recommended food groups. MedDiet scores were calculated based on a previously validated method that contains 14 questions related to MedDiet. Both diet scores were classified into tertiles. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the statistical significance of the tertile groups. Result: A significant association was found between HFD score and obesity when comparing the lowest tertile (27.3±4.6 kg/m2) of HFD scores with the medium tertile (29.2±5.7 kg/m2; P = 0.02). A higher HFD score was significantly associated with lower 25(OH)D levels (P = 0.02). In addition, a significant association was observed between MedDiet scores and 25(OH)D levels, with an increase in MedDiet score resulting in an increase in 25(OH)D levels (P = 0.01). Furthermore, a significant negative association between MedDiet scores and low-density lipoprotein levels was reported only in participants with CVD (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that HFD and MedDiet scores might have a role in the development of CVD and vitamin D deficiency among the Saudi Arabian population. Further studies are required using diet scores to assess the quality of dietary patterns and their association with an increased risk of diseases in Saudi Arabians

Impact of the Intake of Snacks and Lifestyle Behaviors on Obesity among University Students Living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Unhealthy eating habits increase the risk of obesity. This study investigated the association between obesity and the intake of snacks and lifestyle behaviors among university students in Saudi Arabia. The study included 662 students aged 18–29 years, studying at King Abdulaziz University. An online survey collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, height, and weight, to calculate body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors, dietary habits, and snack intake. The prevalence of overweight and obese students was 18.6% and 12.7%, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle behaviors had insignificant effects on obesity. Obese students consumed two meals daily and more cereals during breakfast. Non-obese students consumed more beverages at breakfast and had their daily meals with their families. The frequency of intake of snacks had an insignificant effect on obesity. However, obese students had a significantly higher intake of potato chips, popcorn, and biscuits, while non-obese students had a significantly higher intake of salads compared with obese students. Students consumed significantly less fruit and vegetables, chocolate, biscuits, nuts, and dairy products as snacks when inside the university compared to outside. To reduce obesity among students, universities should ensure access to healthy snacks, and provide health education programs to encourage healthy eating habits and lifestyles

High Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Obesity among Adults in Gulf Countries

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is considered as a good example of a healthy dietary pattern that has protective effects on obesity. The aim of the present study was to assess the adherence of adults from three Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait) to the MedDiet and its association with obesity risk. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 961 men and women (75.7%) aged 20–55 years old. Waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference (HC) were measured waist/hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. A validated 14-item Questionnaire was used to measure adherence to MedDiet. The mean of the adherence to MedDiet score was 5.9 ± 2.03 for the total sample. An inverse association was observed between the adherence to MedDiet and BMI after adjusting for potential confounders (p = 0.0003 in total participants, and p = 0.001 in women only). A protective effect was seen with a higher adherence to the MedDiet on HC, suggesting that a greater adherence to the MedDiet was associated with a decreased HC (p = 0.04 in total participants, and p = 0.01 in women only). In conclusion, low adherence to the MedDiet among participants from three gulf countries was associated with increased obesity indicators, BMI, and HC

Gender differences in knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to type 1 diabetes among Saudi public-school teachers

Abstract Background Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) need carefully monitoring even during school hours to avoid emergencies. Hence, it is crucial for teachers to have appropriate knowledge and positive attitudes toward diabetes to effectively manage the disease and its complications. This study aimed to compare the knowledge, attitudes, and practices with respect to T1DM among Saudi male and female public-school teachers living in Jeddah and to identify the associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary, intermediate, and secondary public-school teachers working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between October 2021 and March 2022. Data were collected through an online survey. The survey included information on the socio-demographics of school teachers, the presence of chronic diseases, teachers’ health behaviours, and knowledge, attitude, and practice with respect to T1DM. Results This study included 378 school teachers. The majority of school teachers from both genders were married, held a bachelor’s degree, and aged 45–54 years. Male school teachers were married (P = 0.02), held postgraduate certificates (P < 0.001), smoked cigarette and shisha (P < 0.001), and were physically active (P < 0.001) compared to female school teachers. Regarding teachers’ knowledge of T1DM, it was found that female teachers were significantly more knowledgeable of T1DM children’s and its symptoms than male teachers (P = 0.03; P = 0.01, respectively). However, male teachers were more willing to accommodate T1DM students in their classes and attend programs to support T1DM students as compared to female teachers (P = 0.004; P = 0.004, respectively). Moreover, the study showed poor practice scores for T1DM. In addition, the knowledge, attitudes, and practice scores toward T1DM were significantly associated with advanced age (P = 0.002), and extended years of teaching experience (P ≤ 0.002). Also, diabetic teachers had the highest knowledge (P = 0.03) and attitude (P = 0.02) scores compared to non-diabetic teachers. Male teachers who were married (P = 0.002), shisha smokers (P = 0.01), and had never practiced activity (P = 0.03) had better attitudes and practices toward T1DM. Similarly, female teachers who held bachelor’s certificates had better attitudes toward T1DM (P = 0.02). Conclusion The present study revealed moderate knowledge, favorable attitudes, and poor practices related to T1DM among school teachers in Jeddah. It is crucial for policymakers to provide school teachers with training for necessary diabetes care for diabetic students