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Eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors of Jordanian adolescents' residents of Amman

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Abu-Mweis, Suhad Sameera; * | Tayyem, Reema Fayeza | Bawadi, Hiba Ahmadb | Musaiger, Abdulrahman O.c | Al-Hazzaa, Hazzaa M.d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan | [b] Department of Nutrition and Food Technology Jordan University of Science and Technology | [c] Arab Center for Nutrition, Manama, Bahrain, and Nutrition and Health Studies Unit, Deanship of Scientific Research, University of Bahrain | [d] Pediatric Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Dr. Suhad S. Abu-Mweis, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics; The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. Tel.: +962 79 595 6953; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Adolescents, dietary behaviors, Jordan, exercise, lifestyle

DOI: 10.3233/MNM-140007

Journal: Mediterranean Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 67-74, 2014

Published: 1 January 2014
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Abstract

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Jordanian adolescents and to assess their lifestyle patterns including eating habits, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. The study was carried out as part of the Arab Teens Lifestyle Study. The sample consisted of 735 high school students aged 14–20 years (52.5% males and 47.5% females). Students were randomly selected from the city of Amman, Jordan, using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary habits (breakfast consumption, intakes of vegetables, fruit, milk and milk products, sugar-sweetened drinks, fast food, sweets and energy drinks), physical activity and screen time were assessed. Students' body weight and height were measured. The prevalence of overweight was 16.1% and 12.6% among males and females, respectively. Obesity prevalence was higher among males (9.6%) than females (4.3%). There were significant age and gender effects for some of the selected eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors. Less than one third of the adolescents ate breakfast, vegetables, fruits, and drink milk daily. Consumption of unhealthy foods was high. About 95% of the adolescents spent more than 2 hours in screen time. In addition, more males than females met the recommended amount of daily physical activity. In conclusion, a considerable proportion of Jordanian adolescents have undesirable lifestyle habits. Such behaviors increase adolescents' risks for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. The findings have important implications for health promotion and disease prevention programs directed towards adolescent population.

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