TITLE:
Factors Associated with Students’ Daily Fruit and Vegetable Recommendation at Umm Al-Qura University
AUTHORS:
Heba Althubaiti
KEYWORDS:
Fruit Intake, Veg Intake, F & V Recommendation, Students, Umm Al-Qura University
JOURNAL NAME:
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
Vol.13 No.2,
February
14,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: There is a lack of the awareness in the fruit and vegetable (F & V) recommendation
among Saudi society. Although the known facts of the benefits of F & V on
health, information on Saudi society following the advised recommendation
whether by WHO or local are still unknown. Aim: This cross-sectional
study aims to examine the perception of F & V intake among students at Umm
Al-Qura University and to assess if they follow these recommendations of F
& V locally and internationally. Method: Students from Umm Al-Qura
University participated in this study (n = 98, age between 18 - 55).
All data were collected using short online survey via Online survey—Survey
Monkey in 2019. Result: 55% students were not aware of these
recommendations whereas 45% were aware of WHO
recommendation. The majority of students 53% have less than two portions a day
of F & V. Only 14% have between two to four portions a day. 32% do not eat
any portion of F & V daily. 59%, 14%, 5% of students believe that they
should have five, seven, more than seven portions a day for being healthy
respectively. Maintaining health, reducing the risk for chronic disease and providing essential vitamins and
minerals to the body were all reasons why students believe that they should
have F & V everyday by 71%. Busy lifestyle, F & V cost, lack of the
awareness about the health benefits, dislike of the taste, some F & V spoiled easily
were all factors affecting eating F & V daily. Conclusion: University students need educational and nutritional campaigns to spread the
awareness about the health benefits of F & V. Most importantly the ministry
of health should support those campaigns to increase students’ awareness and
build a healthy society with a good habit.