title: Obesity among Saudi Female University Students: Dietary Habits and Health Behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The remarkable economic growth in Saudi Arabia has affected the population life style negatively. The increasing problem of obesity has been reported from different regions in the kingdom. The rate of overweight and obesity reached 65.4% in the eastern region among females aged 18-74 years old. Although there is considerable amount of data on prevalence of obesity, yet, data on dietary habits and food consumption pattern are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study is a cross- sectional descriptive study aimed at exploring the BMI distribution among university female students. Food consumption pattern and health related behaviors were also assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  799 students participated in the study; data were collected using self administered questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured to calculate the BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the study participants, overweight and obesity reached 47.9%. Marriage, presence of obesity among family members, frequency of drinking aerated beverages increased the risk of obesity significantly. Misperception of body image was reported by 17.4% and 54.2% of obese and overweight students respectively. Analysis of dietary habits and life styles indicated the predominance of unhealthy behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results mandate the need for a national strategy to adopt healthy dietary habits and life styles.
authors.affiliation: Home Economics (Nutrition and Food Sciences) Department, Princess Nora Bint Abdul Rahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. norhmhq1@gmail.com
authors.forename: Norah M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Al Qauhiz
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult