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Introduction
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia has increased rapidly, reaching up to 37% and 41%, respectively.1 This is due to a major shift in dietary intake, decreased physical activity levels and accelerated nutrition transition, thereby increasing nutrition-related health problems and other related diseases.2-4 The traditional healthy diet consisting of dates, milk, vegetables, fruits, fish, and whole wheat grains has been replaced by the Western-style diet, with excess intake of calorie-dense food, high intake of fat and sugar, and low intake of fiber.2-6 Along with changes in dietary habits, unhealthy foods are easily affordable and accessible; additionally, a luxurious lifestyle in which vehicles are extensively used and an increased prevalence of sedentary behaviors have all resulted in high obesity rates, particularly in the Saudi population.5 In addition, obesity is also associated with many chronic diseases, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.7-10
Dietary intake is a risk factor that contributes to the management or prevention of many health problems.11, 12 Recently, many nutrition-related epidemiological studies have assessed the relationship between dietary patterns rather than just focusing on a single nutrient in relation to disease risks.11, 12 The concept is such that dietary patterns reflect the effect of a combination of foods, nutrient content, and dietary behavior and are more representative of daily dietary intake.2, 3, 11-13 Previous studies have shown that Western dietary intake patterns are linked with an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and elevated triglyceride levels, whereas prudent dietary patterns are correlated with a lower body mass index (BMI) and a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mortality.11, 12, 14-16
To our knowledge, available published studies on dietary patterns in Saudi Arabia are limited.2 Henceforth, the objective of the current study was to study the explore different dietary patterns among the Saudi population and examine the association between dietary patterns and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. This will be particularly important and helpful for the promotion of effective prevention programs to maintain overall health and well-being in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
Study Design and Participants
A cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of Saudi adults living in Riyadh...