TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediterranean Fast Food
T2 - A Leading Cause of Hypercholesterolemia among University Students in Northern Jordan
AU - Khatatbeh, Moawiah
AU - Momani, Waleed
AU - Altaany, Zaid
AU - Al Saad, Reem
AU - Al Bourah, Abdul Rahman
AU - Melhem, Omar
AU - Al Omari, Omar
N1 - Funding Information:
The publication of this paper was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research and Graduate Studies at Yarmouk University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Khatatbeh et al.
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - Background: Consumption of fast food is pervasive among young adults. This research aimed to assess the impact of consuming fast foods on total cholesterol level among university students in Northern Jordan.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a blood sample to investigate cholesterol level was drawn from a sample of university students in Northern Jordan. Besides, students' dietary habits and anthropometric measurements were obtained.Results: Out of 201 participants, 57% (n=115) were male and 43% (n=86) were female. More than three quarters of the sample ate shawarma (Mediterranean fast food) at least once per week. About 44% of the study subjects had increased BMI and about 37% had increased serum cholesterol level. Participants' gender, age, marital status, physical activity, BMI, living status, and daily pocket money significantly correlated with cholesterol level (
P<0.05). In the regression analysis, eating fast foods and increased BMI were strong predictors of high cholesterol level. Students who ate shawarma more than 3 times a week had more than 8 folds to have hypercholesterolemia (OR=8.4; CI: 2.62-26.72), and obese students were more than 14 folds at higher risk to have hypercholesterolemia compared to those with normal BMI (OR=14.2; CI: 4.80-42.29). In addition, male students had doubled odds for having abnormal cholesterol level compared to females (OR=2.1; CI: 1.10-4.44).
Conclusion: Fast food consumption among university students in Jordan was significantly associated with increased total cholesterol level. Encouraging healthy diet and lifestyle are the basis for prevention of dyslipidemia.
AB - Background: Consumption of fast food is pervasive among young adults. This research aimed to assess the impact of consuming fast foods on total cholesterol level among university students in Northern Jordan.Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a blood sample to investigate cholesterol level was drawn from a sample of university students in Northern Jordan. Besides, students' dietary habits and anthropometric measurements were obtained.Results: Out of 201 participants, 57% (n=115) were male and 43% (n=86) were female. More than three quarters of the sample ate shawarma (Mediterranean fast food) at least once per week. About 44% of the study subjects had increased BMI and about 37% had increased serum cholesterol level. Participants' gender, age, marital status, physical activity, BMI, living status, and daily pocket money significantly correlated with cholesterol level (
P<0.05). In the regression analysis, eating fast foods and increased BMI were strong predictors of high cholesterol level. Students who ate shawarma more than 3 times a week had more than 8 folds to have hypercholesterolemia (OR=8.4; CI: 2.62-26.72), and obese students were more than 14 folds at higher risk to have hypercholesterolemia compared to those with normal BMI (OR=14.2; CI: 4.80-42.29). In addition, male students had doubled odds for having abnormal cholesterol level compared to females (OR=2.1; CI: 1.10-4.44).
Conclusion: Fast food consumption among university students in Jordan was significantly associated with increased total cholesterol level. Encouraging healthy diet and lifestyle are the basis for prevention of dyslipidemia.
KW - Fast foods
KW - Jordan
KW - Mediterranean
KW - Students
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128418383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85128418383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.18502/ijph.v51i4.9238
DO - 10.18502/ijph.v51i4.9238
M3 - Article
C2 - 35936528
AN - SCOPUS:85128418383
SN - 2251-6085
VL - 51
SP - 779
EP - 787
JO - Iranian Journal of Public Health
JF - Iranian Journal of Public Health
IS - 4
ER -