Endocrinology & Metabolic Syndrome
Open Access

Abstract

Nutrition Style and Diet Composition Leading to Obesity and Overweight in a Cross-Sectional Survey Conducted in a Hospitalized Arab Population in Nazareth, Israel

Bowirrat Abdalla and Bisharat Bishara

Background: Previously, epidemiological studies of overweight and obesity in the Mediterranean basin were limited, particularly for Arab population. Obesity and overweight are an important adjustable threat for many complex diseases and are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. Extraordinarily enhanced frequency and rising levels of overweight and obesity over the last 3 to 4 decades give it crucial importance as a current pandemic phenomenon and the main public health emergency worldwide, which is beginning to replace malnutrition, under-nutrition, starvation and contagious diseases as the most noteworthy contributor to chronic diseases. Recently, the effects of overweight and obesity are widely documented as one of Arab’s leading health challenges, involving all ages and all segments of the society.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity and examine covariates associated factors, diet composition and the eating habits among adults Arab population in Israel.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 287 hospitalized patients aged 18 years and older (123 males and 164 females) was conducted in three medical departments (Internal, surgical and orthopedics words) at E.M.M.S hospital (Nazareth). Demographic data, anthropometric assessments, dietary assessment, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics, BP measurements, and biochemical assessment were collected using a previously validated survey instruments. Questionnaires were checked for completeness, accuracy and bias prior to data entry by a dietarian specialist staff at Nazareth hospital.

Results: The mean BMI results were compared between males and females (28.4 ± 0.53) versus (30.31 ± 0.46), respectively (P-value<0.2). The measurement of WC among males and females was as follow: (104.3 ± 1.67) versus (101.4 ± 1.57) respectively, (P-value=0.8).

Median intake of refined grain and the whole grain intake (serving/day) in both genders was examined and showed that the median consumption of refined grain is significantly higher than the whole grain in both genders (Pvalue< 0.0001). In addition, we compared the median intake of highly fat dairy products in both genders with low fat dairy (serving/day). We observed that the consumption of high fat dairy products is statistically higher than low fat dairy products (P-value<0.0001).

Conclusions: The study provides current data on anthropometric measurements and obesity in urban Arab populations. the results of our study indicate that rates of abnormal waist circumferences (WC) in both genders in all age groups are high, and WC surprisingly continue to increase progressively even after the age 65 in females. Interestingly, we noticed that the Arab population eating regime is disorganized and usually without awareness and control and that only a small proportion of Arabs are aware of the association between obesity and morbidity. Indeed, we observed that unhealthy diet dominate in Arabic kitchens such as high carbohydrates, low fiber and high fat diet consumption. These results are in conflict with the famous known healthy diet in the Middle East known as “Mediterranean diet”, rich in vegetables, fruits, high fiber and low fat diet.