Dietary and Lifestyle Characteristics and Metabolic Disorders in Reproductive-Age Women: Explorative Study in Peshawar Pakistan

Abstract

Background: In rural areas, women significantly contribute to both household and agricultural activities. Their involvement in diverse tasks impacts their health, emphasizing the need to study how their lifestyle, dietary habits, and stress levels relate to metabolic health. Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the relationship between lifestyle, dietary diversity, psychological stress, and metabolic indicators among rural women of reproductive age. Methods: Data were collected from 300 women aged 20 to 40, free from chronic conditions, using standardized subjective and objective measures. These included assessments of nutritional status, psychosocial factors, dietary habits, physical activity, sleep duration, body composition, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels. Dietary patterns were analyzed using Principal Component and Factor Analysis via SPSS. Results: The average age of the participants was 27 years. Mean weight was 61.7 ± 14.2 kg and mean height 156.3 ± 5.7 cm. About 31% were overweight and 13% underweight. The average Perceived Stress Score was 14.9, with 47.5% experiencing low stress and 8.5% high stress. Dietary diversity was low for 42.5% of the women. Sedentary lifestyles correlated strongly with adverse metabolic indicators. Principal dietary patterns identified were savory cereals, dairy-based vegetables, and high-fat red meat. High-fat red meat consumption showed strong correlations with increased BMI and visceral body fat. Conclusion: Lifestyle factors, psychological stress, and dietary patterns, especially high consumption of red meat and fat, significantly influence metabolic health among rural women.