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This study aimed at finding a relationship between frequency of food consumption and Body mass index (BMI). In this study, 200 school going adolescent girls, 12 – 19 years were selected randomly from two schools which were randomly sampled out of 30 schools in Abha province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their height, weight and waist circumference were measured. Physical activity, family history of obesity or underweight (thinness Grade 1) and dietary profiles including frequency of food consumption were collected by an interview process. Pearson’s Chi square was computed between BMI and frequency of food consumption. Statistical analysis revealed that frequency of food consumption and physical activity did not relate to BMI. However family history of obesity or underweight (p

Aims: In Ethiopia, AIDS has become the leading cause of mortality in the 15-49 years age group, accounting for an estimated 43% of all young adult deaths. Though the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), improved survival and quality of life, early data from those treated, raised concerns about a possible increase in both peripheral and coronary arterial disease through lipodystrophy, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Hence an attempt was made in this study to understand risk factors of HIV positive subjects and prevalence of lipodystrophy, type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension in subjects receiving HAART. Study Design: Institution based cross sectional and retrospective study was conducted. Place and Duration of Study and Sample: Study participants were men and women who were HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART from Sodo government hospital, Southern Ethiopia from December 1st, 2009 - January 30th, 2010. Methodology: By using the subjects' electronic database as sampling frame, a total of 176 subjects were recruited for the study using simple random sampling method. Data

PurposeNutrition education is an important measure to improve dietary habits and food choices, since poor dietary habits are the main reason for poor nutritional status of adolescents. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of nutrition education on the nutritional and dietary profile of adolescents and early adults.Design/methodology/approachA pre‐test post‐test experimental design was employed and the study was a cross‐sectional study. From three stratified areas of Benghazi city, two schools were selected by random sampling. From the total of six schools, all the children aged 14‐21 years were selected, amounting to 111 girls and 89 boys. Nutrition education was imparted after initial nutritional (BMI, physical activity) and dietary assessment (food frequency, 24 hour recall) and repeated at weekly intervals. After three months, nutritional and dietary assessments were again repeated.FindingsNo significant changes in BMI and physical activity were observed. A significant reduction in the frequency of intakes of chocolate (p < 0.01), chips (p < 0.01), bread and fast food in the female subjects and bread (p < 0.01), cereals and chocolate in the male subjects were observed. Significant increases were observed with respect to percentage of RDA met by intake of nutrients such as energy, carbohydrate, riboflavin and niacin and a significant decrease in the intake of zinc in male subjects.Originality/valueThe paper shows that nutrition education is the need of the hour, which would help adolescents and early adults to imbibe healthy eating habits.

Ethiopia is one of the countries in Africa with a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Though the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) improved survival and quality of life, early data from those treated, raised concerns about a possible increase in both peripheral and coronary arterial disease through lipodystrophy, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. Hence an attempt was made in this study to assess the prevalence of lipodystrophy and to understand risk factors in HIV positive subjects receiving HAART. Study participants were men and women who were HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART from Sodo government hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Data was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, HAART use, CD4 count, and subjects' status at the start of treatment, measure of body fat distribution and physical activity. In the present study the prevalence of moderate to severe clinical lipodystrophy in HIV-infected subjects receiving HAART for atleast 6 months was 15.9%, lipoatrophy was 9.1% and lipohypertrophy was 6.8%. Subjects who had been on HAART for 4 yrs or more, engaged in much lighter work intensity and who were underweight and overweight or obese had higher prevalence of lipodystrophy. In multivariate analysis, gender, duration of HAART, work intensity and recent BMI remained significantly associated with overall lipodystrophy. In multivariate analysis, for phenotypes of lipodystrophy, only work intensity remained significantly associated with lipoatrophy whereas work intensity and duration of HAART remained significantly associated with lipohypertrophy. Lipohypertrophy and lipoatrophy were positively associated with diabetes mellitus, while only lipohypertrophy was associated with hypertension. None of the HAART drugs or regimens were significantly associated with lipodystrophy and diabetes mellitus. Lipodystrophy syndrome has severe health consequences, as it may be responsible for stigma, reduced adherence to antiretroviral treatment, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the nutritive value of Libyan airline meals in comparison with RDA.Design/methodology/approachThe study was carried out using food samples collected from the catering department of Benina International Airport, Benghazi, Libya, for a period of two months. Different types of meals served for breakfast, lunch (beef meal, chicken meal and lamb meal) and snacks were collected in triplicate from the catering department of the airport prior to being loaded onto the aircraft. These samples were taken immediately to the university laboratory and weighed after removing the bones and separating the different dishes from the pre‐plated meal box. Rice, different vegetables and meat were weighed separately using a digital balance. Measuring cups were used to measure liquids. Chefs were consulted regarding the amount of different ingredients that went into the preparation of the different recipes to enable nutritive value computation using food composition tables. Finally the nutrient content of each meal and snack were compared with the RDA.FindingsThe results on the nutritive value of the dishes served for breakfast, lunch and snacks revealed higher amounts of energy, carbohydrates, saturated fat and sodium in comparison with the RDA in most of the meals, whereas the micronutrient content with respect to vitamins A, E and C, most B vitamins, and iron and calcium did not meet the RDA in respect of most of the meals.Practical implicationsThe airline needs to look seriously into this issue and improve the micronutrient content of its meals, simultaneously reducing the total energy and sodium content and replacing the saturated fat present in the meals in the best interests of preventing health risks to frequent airline passengers.Originality/valueThe paper assesses the nutritional value of one airline's meals.

Purpose/Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the nutritive value of Libyan airline breakfast in comparison with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and to conduct sensory evaluation of selected items on board the flights. Design/Methodology: Food samples were collected from the catering department of Benina International airport, Benghazi, Libya for a period of two months and nutritive value was calculated. A self administered questionnaire prepared on the basis of the Hedonic scale was used for inflight sensory evaluation of selected snacks. Findings: The results on nutritive value of snacks revealed higher amounts of energy, carbohydrates, saturated fat and sodium in comparison to the RDA when the full day’s meal was considered. Micronutrients such as vitamins A, E, C and folic acid fell short of RDA. Sensory evaluation revealed that a majority of the travelers disliked most of the breakfast items except juice. Practical implications: The airline needs to improve the micronutrient content of snacks, simultaneously reducing the total energy and sodium content and replacing saturated fat to prevent health risks to regular airline passengers. Also palatability need not be compromised in light of safety of food items served.

The nutritional status of adolescents and early adults is ‘at risk’ because of the booming up of the fast food industry and decline in physical activity. An attempt was made in this study to understand the nutritional status of female adolescents and early adults in Aseer region of Abha district. Using a structured and validated questionnaire, the age, height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference income and education of parents and physical activity were assessed. The anthropometric profile (Mean) indicates that almost all parameters were within normal range. However 36.6 percent of the subjects fell in the ‘at risk’ category of waist hip ratio. With respect to the body mass index, a majority of the subjects were normal weight (68.3%), followed by 16.8 percent who were overweight and 14.9 percent underweight. In conclusion it can be stated that the overweight and underweight subjects should be brought to the normal weight category by consuming a nutritionally balanced diet and adequate physical activity to prevent malnutrition problems and chronic diseases for the underweight and overweight adolescents and early adults in the long run.

Objective: Adolescents are a high-risk group for under nutrition. Hence this study assessed the nutritional status and dietary profile of adolescents and early adults. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in which subjects were randomly sampled from 6 higher secondary schools which were randomly sampled from three randomly sampled areas in Benghazi. Information on socioeconomic data, lifestyle, height, weight, food frequency and 24 hour food recall were collected. Setting: Schools from Benghazi city in Libya.