Teachers Dietary Practices during School Day in Jeddah, Western Saudi Arabia

Balkees Abed Bakhotmah

doi:10.4236/fns.2012.311203

Abstract

The schools teachers dietary practices during the school day should reflect a healthy dietary pattern both in quality and quantity of foods consumed particularly in countries that witness an epidemic of obesity related Type-2 diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to identify the local dietary practices of the schools teachers in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia. A Cross-section observational study using a pre-designed questionnaire to identify the local pattern of dietary practices during school day of a representative sample of schools teachers was conducted in Jeddah. The questionnaire was piloted and administered to a sample of 140 teachers working in 15 schools across Jeddah. A total of 140 Saudi teachers participated. The mean age of the sample was 34.9 ± 6.1 years. Two thirds (66.4%) were females. Overall, 40.5% were overweight and 22.4% were obese. During the school day, tea and Arabic coffee were the commonest daily consumed drinks (67.9%, 65.7% respectively). Almost half of the sample consumed dates on a daily basis (51.4%). Breads and cheese sandwiches were always consumed by 45% and 33.6% respectively. Two thirds of females 67.7% and 55.3% of males were used to have breakfast and/or snack with their colleagues at school. Males preferred to purchase ready-made traditional foods from outside while females preferred the schools canteens. The percentages of overweight and obesity were higher among males compared to females (46.5 versus 37%) and (25.6% versus 20.5%) respecttively. It is concluded that the dietary practices of Saudi school teachers during school day vary according to gender. Findings indicate the need for dietary modification programs directed towards schools teachers in populations which report high prevalence rates of diabetes of similar cultural backgrounds.

Highlights

In the eyes’ of their students, the schools teachers are role models who “practice what they preach” [1]
The schools teachers dietary practices during the school day should reflect a healthy dietary pattern both in quality and quantity of foods consumed in countries that witness an epidemic of obesity related Type-2 diabetes mellitus
It is concluded that the dietary practices of Saudi school teachers during school day vary according to gender

Summary

Introduction

In the eyes’ of their students, the schools teachers are role models who “practice what they preach” [1]. In addition to the positive role modeling, school teachers can affect students’ eating habits in other ways including through nutrition knowledge and avoidance of unhealthy classroom food practices [2,3]. The teachers’ nutritional behavior, dietary practices and eating habits at the school are usually well observed by students. Teachers’ foods practices and nutritional behaviors during school day including their dietary pattern both in quality and quantity of foods consumed may transmit to their students [2]. Food practices during the school day vary between nations and sometimes in the same nation depending on cultural, socio-economic and educational backgrounds [1,2,3]. The identification of these food practices during the school day may help in designing future educational nutritional programs that support healthy food practices in the schools’ environment in countries that witness an epidemic of obesity related

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Conclusion