The Association of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Among Reproductive-Aged Women With Consumption of Junk Food in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive and endocrinological disorder that affects a significant percentage of women worldwide. Despite its high prevalence, the possible environmental factors that influence the development of PCOS, especially dietary habits, are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PCOS and junk food consumption among women of childbearing age in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2023 to April 2023 in 155 women diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. Participants aged 18-47 years and living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia completed a validated 30-item electronic questionnaire that included sociodemographic information, medical history, PCOS symptoms, and fast food consumption patterns. RESULTS: The study revealed a high prevalence of obesity and overweight among PCOS patients, which was significantly associated with their diets high in carbohydrates, fats, and refined sugars. In addition, weight loss was difficult for these patients, which could be influenced by hormonal imbalances and dietary factors. In particular, fast food consumption showed a significant association with facial acne in PCOS patients, while some participants also experienced excessive hair growth on the face, abdomen, and back, which may be related to excessive fat intake. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence to support an association between junk food consumption and the prevalence of PCOS among women of reproductive age in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The findings suggest that dietary patterns may influence the development and treatment of PCOS, highlighting the need for lifestyle interventions as part of treatment strategies. Further studies with larger and more diverse populations, as well as longitudinal studies, are warranted to clarify causal relationships and gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of dietary factors on the development and progression of PCOS. Identifying the potential effects of diet on PCOS can lead to more effective treatments and improve the overall health and well-being of those affected.

Impact of Dietary Intake and Physical Activity on Metabolic Syndrome in Saudi Adults: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is characterized by the clustering of commonly observed multiple metabolic abnormalities, such as abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure (BP), impaired fasting glucose level, and occasionally a meager amount of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The present case-control pilot study was designed to examine and compare the different dietary habits of specific food groups (meat, dairy, fats, and carbohydrates) in 85 male and female participants (age: 20 to 80 years) between MetSyn patients (n=54), based on World Health Organization criteria and non-MetSyn patients (n=31) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Patients were studied based on a dietary questionnaire with clear validity that included personal and diet related habit queries, body mass index (BMI), HDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and BP. Results showed significantly increased values for BMI (kg/m2), systolic BP, diastolic BP, HDL-C, and blood calcium concentration among the MetSyn group compared to non-MetSyn group. Substantial differences were obtained for fasting glucose distribution between MetSyn and non-MetSyn groups (P<0.002). The study analysis revealed that consumption of dairy and fats was relatively higher in MetSyn patients. Also, the frequency of eating meat and derivatives showed no significant statistical difference. between the two groups. The study found that the MetSyn group consumed a significantly more proportion of dairy products, though there were no changes in dietary patterns between the MetSyn and non-MetSyn groups in terms of the intake of meats, dairy, fat, and carbohydrate.

Association of Age and Serum Vitamin D Levels in Men with Metabolic Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of age and serum vitamin D levels in men with (Mets) and without (NMetS) metabolic syndromes. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from January 2019 to December 2020. METHODOLOGY: Properly diagnosed male subjects with MetS [n: 113 (49.13%); age: 26-60 years], and age-matched control subjects with NMetS [n:117 (50.87%); age: 26-60 years] were studied for the determination of serum vitamin D (vitD) levels, and correlation of age and serum vitD. RESULTS: Non-significant change in serum vitD levels were obtained in MetS compared to NMetS (p >0.05) for whole data; as well as in MetS compared to NMetS subjects for all age-range groups. Insufficiency of serum vitD was found in both MetS and NMets subjects. However, mean values for MetS and NMetS showed age-wise lowering in vitamin D and highly significant negative linear correlation of age and vitD for MetS (R: -0.508, p <0.001) and NMetS (R: -0.522, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Present report, emphasising the significant negative linear correlation of age with serum vitD levels in MetS and NMetS subjects, provides potential information for understanding the discomforts caused by the insufficiency of vitamin D with the increase in age. Key Words: Serum vitD, Age, Metabolic syndrome, Age-vitD association.

Gender differences in leisure-time versus non-leisure-time physical activity among Saudi adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the gender differences and predictors of leisure versus non-leisure time physical activities among Saudi adolescents aged 14-19 years. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The multistage stratified cluster random sampling technique was used. A sample of 1,388 males and 1,500 females enrolled in secondary schools in three major cities in Saudi Arabia was included. Anthropometric measurements were performed and Body Mass Index was calculated. Physical activity, sedentary behaviours and dietary habits were measured using a self-reported validated questionnaire. RESULTS: The total time spent in leisure and non-leisure physical activity per week was 90 and 77 minutes, respectively. The males spent more time per week in leisure-time physical activities than females. Females in private schools spent more time during the week in leisure-time physical activities, compared to females in Stateschools. There was a significant difference between genders by obesity status interaction in leisure-time physical activity. Gender, and other factors, predicted total duration spent in leisure-time and non-leisure-time physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that female adolescents are much less active than males, especially in leisure-time physical activities. Programmes to promote physical activity among adolescents are urgently needed, with consideration of gender differences.

Patterns and determinants of physical activity among Saudi adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported comprehensive and valid physical activity (PA) data for Saudi youth. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine patterns and determinants of PA among Saudi adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi secondary schools (15-19 years) during 2009/2010 and used multistage stratified cluster sample (N = 2866, 51.7% females). Weight, height, sedentary behaviors, PA, and dietary habits were assessed. RESULTS: Roughly 44% of males and 20% of females were active (≥ 1 hour/day). Males in public schools were more active than in private schools, whereas the opposite was true for females. Females exercise mostly at home, whereas males exercise at public places. The majority of females exercise alone or with relatives, whereas males largely exercise with friends. Males were active for health and recreation whereas females were active for weight loss and recreation. Lack of time was the primary reason for inactivity in both sexes. The predictors of total PA time were gender, intakes of fruit, milk, energy drinks and vegetables and waist/height ratio (R2 = 0.145). CONCLUSIONS: The high inactivity levels, especially among females, are of great concern. Promotion of active living among youth should be a national public health priority.

Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity among urban Saudi adolescents: gender and regional variations.

The nutrition transition with associated lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases has rapidly reached many developing countries, including Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity among Saudi adolescents. This school-based multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted during 2009-2010 in three major cities in Saudi Arabia: Al-Khobar, Jeddah, and Riyadh. Participants included 2,908 students of secondary schools (1,401 males and 1,507 females) aged 14 to 19 years, randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster-sampling technique. Weight, height, and waist-circumference were measured; prevalence of overweight and obes- ity was determined using age- and sex-specific BMI cutoff reference standards of the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Abdominal obesity was determined using waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) cutoffs (above 0.5). The prevalence of overweight was 19.5% in males and 20.8% in females while that of obesity was 24.1% in males and 14% in females. The prevalence of abdominal obesity in males and females was 35.9% and 30.3% respectively. Higher prevalence of obesity was observed among adolescents in private schools. Across all ages, overweight and obesity ranged from 39.9% to 45.6% in males and from 30.4% to 38.7% in females. ANCOVA, controlling for age, showed significant interaction effects (city by gender). It is concluded that the proportions of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity, observed among Saudi adolescents were remarkably high. Such high prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major public-health concern.

Prevalence of short sleep duration and its association with obesity among adolescents 15- to 19-year olds: A cross-sectional study from three major cities in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Adequate sleep has been considered important for the adolescent's health and well being. On the other hand, self-imposed sleep curtailment is now recognized as a potentially important and novel risk factor for obesity. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of short sleep duration and its association with obesity among Saudi adolescents. METHODS: This is a school-based cross-sectional study with self-reported sleep questionnaires. It was conducted during the years 2009/2010 in three cities in Saudi Arabia; Al-Khobar, Jeddah, and Riyadh. Participants were 2868 secondary-school males (1379) and females (1389) aged 15 to 19 years, randomly selected using a multistage stratified sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, waist circumference, BMI, and sleeping duration. Logistic regression analysis while adjusted for age, gender, and location was used to examine the associations between sleep duration and obesity measures. RESULTS: The mean (SD) of sleep duration was 7.2 (1.6) hours/day with no significant differences between males and females. About 31% of the participants obtain less than 7 hours of sleep per day, while approximately 50% of the sample gets less than 8 hours of daily sleep. Two-way ANCOVA results while controlling for the effect of age revealed a significant gender by school-type interaction (P<0.001). In addition, adequate sleep duration increased the odds of having normal weight (adjusted odds ratios = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.08-1.50, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The present study observed a high prevalence of short sleep duration among Saudi adolescents 15- to 19-year olds and that short sleep duration was significantly associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity. Future interventions should investigate whether adopting a healthy lifestyle by adolescents with short sleep duration would improve their sleeping habits or not.

Lifestyle factors associated with overweight and obesity among Saudi adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the relationships between obesity and lifestyle factors is necessary for effective prevention and management of obesity in youth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the associations between obesity measures and several lifestyle factors, including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents aged 14-19 years. METHODS: This was a school-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in three cities in Saudi Arabia (Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh). The participants were 2906 secondary school males (1400) and females (1506) aged 14-19 years, who were randomly selected using a multistage stratified cluster sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), screen time (television viewing, video games and computer use), physical activity (determined using a validated questionnaire), and dietary habits (intake frequency per week). Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between obesity and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Compared with non-obese, obese males and females were significantly less active, especially in terms of vigorous activity, had less favorable dietary habits (e.g., lower intake of breakfast, fruits and milk), but had lower intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and sweets/chocolates. Logistic regression analysis showed that overweight/obesity (based on BMI categories) or abdominal obesity (based on WHtR categories) were significantly and inversely associated with vigorous physical activity levels (aOR for high level = 0.69, 95% CI 0.41-0.92 for BMI and 0.63, 95% CI 0.45-0.89 for WHtR) and frequency of breakfast (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.44; 95% CI 1.20-1.71 for BMI and 1.47; 95% CI 1.22-1.76 for WHtR) and vegetable (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.29; 95% CI 1.03-1.59 for WHtR) intakes, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (aOR for < 3 days/week = 1.32; 95% CI 1.08-1.62 for BMI and 1.42; 95% CI 1.16-1.75 for WHtR). CONCLUSIONS: The present study identified several lifestyle factors associated with obesity that may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Primary prevention of obesity by promoting active lifestyles and healthy diets should be a national public health priority.

Physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents relative to age, gender and region.

BACKGROUND: Few lifestyle factors have been simultaneously studied and reported for Saudi adolescents. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to report on the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviors and dietary habits among Saudi adolescents and to examine the interrelationships among these factors using representative samples drawn from three major cities in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the years 2009-2010 in three cities: Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh. The participants were 2908 secondary-school males (1401) and females (1507) aged 14-19 years, randomly selected using a multistage stratified sampling technique. Measurements included weight, height, sedentary behaviors (TV viewing, playing video games and computer use), physical activity using a validated questionnaire and dietary habits. RESULTS: A very high proportion (84% for males and 91.2% for females) of Saudi adolescents spent more than 2 hours on screen time daily and almost half of the males and three-quarters of the females did not meet daily physical activity guidelines. The majority of adolescents did not have a daily intake of breakfast, fruit, vegetables and milk. Females were significantly (p < 0.05) more sedentary, much less physically active, especially with vigorous physical activity, and there were fewer days per week when they consumed breakfast, fruit, milk and diary products, sugar-sweetened drinks, fast foods and energy drinks than did males. However, the females' intake of French fries and potato chips, cakes and donuts, and candy and chocolate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the males'. Screen time was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated inversely with the intake of breakfast, vegetables and fruit. Physical activity had a significant (p < 0.05) positive relationship with fruit and vegetable intake but not with sedentary behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of sedentary behaviors, physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits among Saudi adolescents is a major public health concern. There is an urgent need for national policy promoting active living and healthy eating and reducing sedentary behaviors among children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia.