Objectives: The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the coronavirus diseas... more Objectives: The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curfew restrictions on the body mass index (BMI) and dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire in Saudi Arabia in May and June 2020, during the curfew restriction period. The questionnaire included three sections with questions regarding sociodemographic data, dietary behaviors, and moderate and vigorous activities. Results: A total of 504 Saudi adults participated in this study. Even though there were no significant differences in the BMI status before and during COVID-19 curfew restrictions, the percentage of overweight participants slightly increased during the period of COVID-19 curfew restrictions. The frequency of intake of fruits and beverages were significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas the consumption of meat and fish, bread and cereals, and sandwiches and burgers showed a significant reduction (p=0.001). Although the overall percentage of participants engaged in moderate physical activities increased during curfew restrictions, there was a reduction in vigorous physical activities. Conclusion: This study demonstrated changes in BMI and dietary and physical activity behaviors due to the COVID-19 curfew restrictions.
Current research in nutrition and food science, Aug 30, 2021
This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers' awareness and attitude towards Saudi F... more This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers' awareness and attitude towards Saudi Food and Drugs Authority's (SFDA) food policies on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and whether consumers' socioeconomic variables impacted their BMI. In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire. The results of a two-sample t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean of BMI among consumers who followed SFDA news and regulations and those who did not. Also, the findings revealed that the BMI mean of consumers who cooperated with SFDA by reporting food safety violations was significantly different compared to consumers who did not cooperate with SFDA. The results of the binary logit model indicated that several socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, income) impacted consumers' BMI. The findings of this study may assist nutrition educators and policy makers to plan programs to improve health-related behaviors.
Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in ch... more Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in children. 1-4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012, 18% of children (aged 6-11 years) were obese, and 21% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) were obese in the United States. 5 In Arabic-speaking countries, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents ranges from 5% to 14% in males and from 3% to 18% in females. 6 However, there is a lack of accurate and comprehensive data on the extent of the problem of obesity among Arab children. 7 To prevent obesity in Arab children, there is a need for research on parenting styles and family factors contributing to obesity so that nutrition education programs can be developed to address these factors. The validat
Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of food advertisements on social media (Twitte... more Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of food advertisements on social media (Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram) on the dietary behaviors of 550 members (58% female) of a Saudi university (King Faisal University) through an electronic questionnaire. Methods The study design is cross-sectional, and an electronic questionnaire was used. The Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between food advertisements on social media watched daily and participants’ body mass index (BMI) and dietary behaviors. The one-way ANOVA analysis was used to analyze the differences between participants watched food advertisements on social media daily based on their body mass index and demographic data. Results Over 50% of the participants were students, single, healthy, normal weight, and with a household income of less than SR 1,600. The most used social media networks that viewed at least 3 food advertisements daily were Snapchat (46%) and Instagram (30%). The s...
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. T... more Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. To date, no research has been reported on parenting styles/practices and family contributors to the development of dietary behaviors in Arab children living in the US. The objectives of this exploratory mixed-method study were to collect data on parenting feeding styles (Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire-CFSQ) of Arab mothers and family contributors (Family Nutrition Physical Activity-FNPA) to the development of dietary behaviors in their children; and to collect data on Arab mothers' challenges and strategies to promote healthier dietary behaviors in their children. Although all Arab mothers (n=23) self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environment and behaviors. Across focus groups, barriers to desirable dietary intake included low vegetable intake and child being distracted by sweets, junk foods, and technology. All mothers wanted their children to have healthier dietary habits and used positive and negative approaches to achieve that. Positive approaches included no pressure to eat and providing healthier alternative foods. Negative approaches included pressuring the child to eat and rewarding with sweets and technology. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI zscores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). This study can guide future efforts in assessing parenting style and assessing the home environment regarding the dietary behaviors of Arab families.
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors ... more The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors on physical activity behaviors in Arab children living in the US. This mixed-method study included the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), Family Nutrition Physical Activity (FNPA) survey, and five focus group discussions (FGD), guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Twenty-three Arab mothers of 37 children aged 6-10 years old participated in this study. Seventeen mothers were overweight or obese, and six children were overweight or obese. Although all Arab mothers self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environments and behaviors. Across FGDs, common physical activity barriers included lack of time, the child being distracted by technology, and lack of a mother's interest in a child's physical activity due to culture and fear. Positive approaches included considering the child's interest in sports and involvement in physical activity with the child. Negative attitudes included pushing the child to do sports and the mother's lack of interest in physical activity. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI z-scores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). No significant associations were found between reported feeding styles (CFSQ), obesogenic family environments (FNPA), and child's BMI z-scores. This study can guide future efforts in developing effective education programs, including physical activity behaviors for Arab families.
Eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a decrease in the incidence of diseases, resultin... more Eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a decrease in the incidence of diseases, resulting from malnutrition or chronic diseases; thus, the World Health Organization recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, the consumption rates of fruits and vegetables of the Saudi community were low, according to a national multistage survey (2015) that included 10,735 individuals and reported that over 98% of the participants consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the nutrition education program (nutrition intervention) in increasing the rate of fruit and vegetable consumption of 207 Saudi female university students. The participants’ rates of fruits and vegetables consumption were collected pre and post the nutrition education program using a measurement tool (questionnaire). The participants received 1.5 hrs. of a nutrition education program, which included the importance and minimum daily consu...
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate parenting practices of Arab mothers related to... more ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate parenting practices of Arab mothers related to the development of healthy and unhealthy dietary behaviors in their children, and the challenges an...
Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal
This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers’ awareness and attitude towards Saudi F... more This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers’ awareness and attitude towards Saudi Food and Drugs Authority’s (SFDA) food policies on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and whether consumers’ socio-economic variables impacted their BMI. In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire. The results of a two-sample t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean of BMI among consumers who followed SFDA news and regulations and those who did not. Also, the findings revealed that the BMI mean of consumers who cooperated with SFDA by reporting food safety violations was significantly different compared to consumers who did not cooperate with SFDA. The results of the binary logit model indicated that several socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, income) impacted consumers’ BMI. The findings of this study may assist nutrition educators and policy makers to plan programs to improve health-related behaviors.
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors ... more The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors on physical activity behaviors in Arab children living in the US. This mixed-method study included the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), Family Nutrition Physical Activity (FNPA) survey, and five focus group discussions (FGD), guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Twenty-three Arab mothers of 37 children aged 6-10 years old participated in this study. Seventeen mothers were overweight or obese, and six children were overweight or obese. Although all Arab mothers self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environments and behaviors. Across FGDs, common physical activity barriers included lack of time, the child being distracted by technology, and lack of a mother's interest in a child's physical activity due to culture and fear. Positive approaches included considering the child's interest in sports and involvement in physical activity with the child. Negative attitudes included pushing the child to do sports and the mother's lack of interest in physical activity. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI z-scores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). No significant associations were found between reported feeding styles (CFSQ), obesogenic family environments (FNPA), and child's BMI z-scores. This study can guide future efforts in developing effective education programs, including physical activity behaviors for Arab families.
Background Numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, are considering nutrition and food policie... more Background Numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, are considering nutrition and food policies to help control the obesity epidemic and other non-communicable diseases. The present study examined public support and awareness, among Saudi adults, for the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority’s (SFDA) food policies, specifically whether public support and awareness for SFDA policies and regulations have a significant impact on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and how socio-economic variables impact the public support and awareness for SFDA policies and regulations. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire, collected data on whether the public were aware and supportive of SFDA’s different food polices and regulations. To examine whether participants’ awareness and support of SFDA’s food policies had a significant impact on their average BMI, two sample t-test was used, and a logistic regression model was used to examine the impact o...
Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regardin... more Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regarding their dietary and physical activity behaviors and to assess the relationship of acculturation to these behaviors. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas. The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of questions related to the role of acculturation on the dietary and physical activity behaviors. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale was used to measure acculturation. A bicultural dietary pattern of Arab mothers emerged. Negative behaviors included skipping meals, increased intake of high-fat fast foods and meat consumption, and lack of traditional physical activity. Some reported reasons for the negative behaviors included children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s preferences, lack of access to traditional foods, preference for convenience, the low cost of some foods, and lack of time. Positive changes for some Arab mothers included healthier cooking techniques, reading nutritional labels, and making new healthy food choices due to increased awareness of healthy foods, availability and affordability of many healthy choices in the United States, and Arab mothers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; attempts to enrich their families&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; meals with vegetables in order to keep the Arabic dietary pattern. Positive dietary and physical activity changes should be supported. Nutrition interventions are needed that address the major barriers to diet and physical activity changes reported by these Arab mothers.
Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in ch... more Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in children. 1-4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012, 18% of children (aged 6-11 years) were obese, and 21% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) were obese in the United States. 5 In Arabic-speaking countries, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents ranges from 5% to 14% in males and from 3% to 18% in females. 6 However, there is a lack of accurate and comprehensive data on the extent of the problem of obesity among Arab children. 7 To prevent obesity in Arab children, there is a need for research on parenting styles and family factors contributing to obesity so that nutrition education programs can be developed to address these factors. The validat
Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regardin... more Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regarding their dietary and physical activity behaviors and to assess the relationship of acculturation to these behaviors. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas. The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of questions related to the role of acculturation on the dietary and physical activity behaviors. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale was used to measure acculturation. A bicultural dietary pattern of Arab mothers emerged. Negative behaviors included skipping meals, increased intake of high-fat fast foods and meat consumption, and lack of traditional physical activity. Some reported reasons for the negative behaviors included children's preferences, lack of access to traditional foods, preference for convenience, the low cost of some foods, and lack of time. Positive changes for...
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. T... more Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. To date, no research has been reported on parenting styles/practices and family contributors to the development of dietary behaviors in Arab children living in the US. The objectives of this exploratory mixed-method study were to collect data on parenting feeding styles (Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire-CFSQ) of Arab mothers and family contributors (Family Nutrition Physical Activity-FNPA) to the development of dietary behaviors in their children; and to collect data on Arab mothers' challenges and strategies to promote healthier dietary behaviors in their children. Although all Arab mothers (n=23) self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environment and behaviors. Across focus groups, barriers to desirable dietary intake included low vegetable intake and child being distracted by sweets, junk foods, and technology. All mothers wanted their children to have healthier dietary habits and used positive and negative approaches to achieve that. Positive approaches included no pressure to eat and providing healthier alternative foods. Negative approaches included pressuring the child to eat and rewarding with sweets and technology. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI zscores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). This study can guide future efforts in assessing parenting style and assessing the home environment regarding the dietary behaviors of Arab families.
Objectives: The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the coronavirus diseas... more Objectives: The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curfew restrictions on the body mass index (BMI) and dietary and physical activity behaviors of Saudi adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire in Saudi Arabia in May and June 2020, during the curfew restriction period. The questionnaire included three sections with questions regarding sociodemographic data, dietary behaviors, and moderate and vigorous activities. Results: A total of 504 Saudi adults participated in this study. Even though there were no significant differences in the BMI status before and during COVID-19 curfew restrictions, the percentage of overweight participants slightly increased during the period of COVID-19 curfew restrictions. The frequency of intake of fruits and beverages were significantly increased (p<0.05), whereas the consumption of meat and fish, bread and cereals, and sandwiches and burgers showed a significant reduction (p=0.001). Although the overall percentage of participants engaged in moderate physical activities increased during curfew restrictions, there was a reduction in vigorous physical activities. Conclusion: This study demonstrated changes in BMI and dietary and physical activity behaviors due to the COVID-19 curfew restrictions.
Current research in nutrition and food science, Aug 30, 2021
This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers' awareness and attitude towards Saudi F... more This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers' awareness and attitude towards Saudi Food and Drugs Authority's (SFDA) food policies on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and whether consumers' socioeconomic variables impacted their BMI. In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire. The results of a two-sample t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean of BMI among consumers who followed SFDA news and regulations and those who did not. Also, the findings revealed that the BMI mean of consumers who cooperated with SFDA by reporting food safety violations was significantly different compared to consumers who did not cooperate with SFDA. The results of the binary logit model indicated that several socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, income) impacted consumers' BMI. The findings of this study may assist nutrition educators and policy makers to plan programs to improve health-related behaviors.
Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in ch... more Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in children. 1-4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012, 18% of children (aged 6-11 years) were obese, and 21% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) were obese in the United States. 5 In Arabic-speaking countries, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents ranges from 5% to 14% in males and from 3% to 18% in females. 6 However, there is a lack of accurate and comprehensive data on the extent of the problem of obesity among Arab children. 7 To prevent obesity in Arab children, there is a need for research on parenting styles and family factors contributing to obesity so that nutrition education programs can be developed to address these factors. The validat
Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of food advertisements on social media (Twitte... more Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of food advertisements on social media (Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram) on the dietary behaviors of 550 members (58% female) of a Saudi university (King Faisal University) through an electronic questionnaire. Methods The study design is cross-sectional, and an electronic questionnaire was used. The Pearson correlations were used to evaluate the relationship between food advertisements on social media watched daily and participants’ body mass index (BMI) and dietary behaviors. The one-way ANOVA analysis was used to analyze the differences between participants watched food advertisements on social media daily based on their body mass index and demographic data. Results Over 50% of the participants were students, single, healthy, normal weight, and with a household income of less than SR 1,600. The most used social media networks that viewed at least 3 food advertisements daily were Snapchat (46%) and Instagram (30%). The s...
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. T... more Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. To date, no research has been reported on parenting styles/practices and family contributors to the development of dietary behaviors in Arab children living in the US. The objectives of this exploratory mixed-method study were to collect data on parenting feeding styles (Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire-CFSQ) of Arab mothers and family contributors (Family Nutrition Physical Activity-FNPA) to the development of dietary behaviors in their children; and to collect data on Arab mothers' challenges and strategies to promote healthier dietary behaviors in their children. Although all Arab mothers (n=23) self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environment and behaviors. Across focus groups, barriers to desirable dietary intake included low vegetable intake and child being distracted by sweets, junk foods, and technology. All mothers wanted their children to have healthier dietary habits and used positive and negative approaches to achieve that. Positive approaches included no pressure to eat and providing healthier alternative foods. Negative approaches included pressuring the child to eat and rewarding with sweets and technology. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI zscores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). This study can guide future efforts in assessing parenting style and assessing the home environment regarding the dietary behaviors of Arab families.
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors ... more The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors on physical activity behaviors in Arab children living in the US. This mixed-method study included the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), Family Nutrition Physical Activity (FNPA) survey, and five focus group discussions (FGD), guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Twenty-three Arab mothers of 37 children aged 6-10 years old participated in this study. Seventeen mothers were overweight or obese, and six children were overweight or obese. Although all Arab mothers self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environments and behaviors. Across FGDs, common physical activity barriers included lack of time, the child being distracted by technology, and lack of a mother's interest in a child's physical activity due to culture and fear. Positive approaches included considering the child's interest in sports and involvement in physical activity with the child. Negative attitudes included pushing the child to do sports and the mother's lack of interest in physical activity. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI z-scores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). No significant associations were found between reported feeding styles (CFSQ), obesogenic family environments (FNPA), and child's BMI z-scores. This study can guide future efforts in developing effective education programs, including physical activity behaviors for Arab families.
Eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a decrease in the incidence of diseases, resultin... more Eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a decrease in the incidence of diseases, resulting from malnutrition or chronic diseases; thus, the World Health Organization recommends five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, the consumption rates of fruits and vegetables of the Saudi community were low, according to a national multistage survey (2015) that included 10,735 individuals and reported that over 98% of the participants consumed less than five servings of fruits and vegetables. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the nutrition education program (nutrition intervention) in increasing the rate of fruit and vegetable consumption of 207 Saudi female university students. The participants’ rates of fruits and vegetables consumption were collected pre and post the nutrition education program using a measurement tool (questionnaire). The participants received 1.5 hrs. of a nutrition education program, which included the importance and minimum daily consu...
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate parenting practices of Arab mothers related to... more ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate parenting practices of Arab mothers related to the development of healthy and unhealthy dietary behaviors in their children, and the challenges an...
Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science Journal
This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers’ awareness and attitude towards Saudi F... more This paper aimed to examine the effect of Saudi consumers’ awareness and attitude towards Saudi Food and Drugs Authority’s (SFDA) food policies on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and whether consumers’ socio-economic variables impacted their BMI. In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire. The results of a two-sample t-test showed that there was a significant difference in the mean of BMI among consumers who followed SFDA news and regulations and those who did not. Also, the findings revealed that the BMI mean of consumers who cooperated with SFDA by reporting food safety violations was significantly different compared to consumers who did not cooperate with SFDA. The results of the binary logit model indicated that several socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, income) impacted consumers’ BMI. The findings of this study may assist nutrition educators and policy makers to plan programs to improve health-related behaviors.
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors ... more The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of parenting styles and family contributors on physical activity behaviors in Arab children living in the US. This mixed-method study included the Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire (CFSQ), Family Nutrition Physical Activity (FNPA) survey, and five focus group discussions (FGD), guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Twenty-three Arab mothers of 37 children aged 6-10 years old participated in this study. Seventeen mothers were overweight or obese, and six children were overweight or obese. Although all Arab mothers self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environments and behaviors. Across FGDs, common physical activity barriers included lack of time, the child being distracted by technology, and lack of a mother's interest in a child's physical activity due to culture and fear. Positive approaches included considering the child's interest in sports and involvement in physical activity with the child. Negative attitudes included pushing the child to do sports and the mother's lack of interest in physical activity. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI z-scores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). No significant associations were found between reported feeding styles (CFSQ), obesogenic family environments (FNPA), and child's BMI z-scores. This study can guide future efforts in developing effective education programs, including physical activity behaviors for Arab families.
Background Numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, are considering nutrition and food policie... more Background Numerous countries, including Saudi Arabia, are considering nutrition and food policies to help control the obesity epidemic and other non-communicable diseases. The present study examined public support and awareness, among Saudi adults, for the Saudi Food and Drugs Authority’s (SFDA) food policies, specifically whether public support and awareness for SFDA policies and regulations have a significant impact on their average Body Mass Index (BMI), and how socio-economic variables impact the public support and awareness for SFDA policies and regulations. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 584 Saudi adults completed an electronic questionnaire, collected data on whether the public were aware and supportive of SFDA’s different food polices and regulations. To examine whether participants’ awareness and support of SFDA’s food policies had a significant impact on their average BMI, two sample t-test was used, and a logistic regression model was used to examine the impact o...
Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regardin... more Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regarding their dietary and physical activity behaviors and to assess the relationship of acculturation to these behaviors. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas. The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of questions related to the role of acculturation on the dietary and physical activity behaviors. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale was used to measure acculturation. A bicultural dietary pattern of Arab mothers emerged. Negative behaviors included skipping meals, increased intake of high-fat fast foods and meat consumption, and lack of traditional physical activity. Some reported reasons for the negative behaviors included children&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s preferences, lack of access to traditional foods, preference for convenience, the low cost of some foods, and lack of time. Positive changes for some Arab mothers included healthier cooking techniques, reading nutritional labels, and making new healthy food choices due to increased awareness of healthy foods, availability and affordability of many healthy choices in the United States, and Arab mothers&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; attempts to enrich their families&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; meals with vegetables in order to keep the Arabic dietary pattern. Positive dietary and physical activity changes should be supported. Nutrition interventions are needed that address the major barriers to diet and physical activity changes reported by these Arab mothers.
Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in ch... more Family environmental factors and parenting styles can be major determinants of obesity risk in children. 1-4 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2012, 18% of children (aged 6-11 years) were obese, and 21% of adolescents (aged 12-19 years) were obese in the United States. 5 In Arabic-speaking countries, the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents ranges from 5% to 14% in males and from 3% to 18% in females. 6 However, there is a lack of accurate and comprehensive data on the extent of the problem of obesity among Arab children. 7 To prevent obesity in Arab children, there is a need for research on parenting styles and family factors contributing to obesity so that nutrition education programs can be developed to address these factors. The validat
Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regardin... more Our study was conducted to collect exploratory data on Arab mothers in the United States regarding their dietary and physical activity behaviors and to assess the relationship of acculturation to these behaviors. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect data on dietary and physical activity behaviors of Arab mothers in Lubbock, Texas. The Social Cognitive Theory guided the development of questions related to the role of acculturation on the dietary and physical activity behaviors. The Male Arab-American Acculturation Scale was used to measure acculturation. A bicultural dietary pattern of Arab mothers emerged. Negative behaviors included skipping meals, increased intake of high-fat fast foods and meat consumption, and lack of traditional physical activity. Some reported reasons for the negative behaviors included children's preferences, lack of access to traditional foods, preference for convenience, the low cost of some foods, and lack of time. Positive changes for...
International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 2020
Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. T... more Parenting styles and family contributors are the main determinants of obesity risk in children. To date, no research has been reported on parenting styles/practices and family contributors to the development of dietary behaviors in Arab children living in the US. The objectives of this exploratory mixed-method study were to collect data on parenting feeding styles (Caregiver's Feeding Style Questionnaire-CFSQ) of Arab mothers and family contributors (Family Nutrition Physical Activity-FNPA) to the development of dietary behaviors in their children; and to collect data on Arab mothers' challenges and strategies to promote healthier dietary behaviors in their children. Although all Arab mothers (n=23) self-assessed that they were authoritative, only seven mothers were categorized as having an authoritative feeding style based on their CFSQ scores. The FNPA overall mean was 3.15, indicating less obesogenic family environment and behaviors. Across focus groups, barriers to desirable dietary intake included low vegetable intake and child being distracted by sweets, junk foods, and technology. All mothers wanted their children to have healthier dietary habits and used positive and negative approaches to achieve that. Positive approaches included no pressure to eat and providing healthier alternative foods. Negative approaches included pressuring the child to eat and rewarding with sweets and technology. In correlation analyses, the mother's BMI was significantly correlated with the child's BMI zscores (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). This study can guide future efforts in assessing parenting style and assessing the home environment regarding the dietary behaviors of Arab families.
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