Fruit and vegetable consumption and its determinants among Saudi university students

Abstract

Objectives Diets rich in Fruits and Vegetables (F&V) are associated with reduced risk of various chronic illnesses. Although World Health Organization (WHO) recommends consumption of at least five portions of F&V a day, very few follow this advice. This study has been designed to assess F&V consumption and factors affecting its usage among students of a Saudi university. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out at the University of Dammam in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the academic year 2012-2013. A total of 367 university students were randomly selected. F&V consumption was assessed using a questionnaire containing predictive parameters about the frequency and type of food consumption. The association of F&V consumption with various potential determinants was calculated using Chi-square test. Results The study included 223 (60.76%) male and 144 (39.23%) female participants. The mean age was 22.40 ± 1.83 while the mean BMI was 23.9 ± 4.79. Consumption of F&V was not at par with the WHO recommended consumption level of 84.47%. Gender and BMI were not found to be significantly associated with F&V consumption. Living with the family, planning daily menu by themselves, awareness of WHO recommendations about F&V consumption, fitness consciousness and regular exercise were significantly associated with moderate or high F&V consumption (p < 0.001). Conclusions F&V consumption in the students of university of Dammam is far less than the WHO recommended level. There is a dire need to educate Saudi youth about the importance of F&V in their diet for a healthier life.