Fayza Rani, Nilofer Fatimi Safdar.
A Cross Sectional Study Assessing The Prevalence of Modifiable Risk Factors of Diet Related Chronic Disease in Tertiary Care Hospital Employees.
Ann Abbasi Shaheed Hosp Karachi Med Dent Coll Jan ;21(1):9-16.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of risk factors i.e. increased Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, dietary intake and physical activity levels among healthy adults and to compare these with the standard recommendations. Also to identify the group at possible risk of developing diet related chronic diseases. Methods: Body size of 153 apparently healthy employees from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi between the ages of 20-50 years were assessed and compared with the WHO's criteria for Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information regarding demographic, anthropometric, dietary and physical activity patterns. Calories and protein were calculated from 24 hour diet recall. Average intakes of different food groups were also compared with the recommended food guides. Results: Out of 153 apparently healthy individuals whose questionnaires were completed only 35.3% had a normal BMI. The rest were overweight, obese-I (BMI range of 25-29.9) & obese-II (above 30 BMI). However when waist circumference was used to assess obesity, 45% of males and 40% of females were found to be at risk. Average caloric intake for males was 2000 ± 420 kcal/Day and for females 1500 ± 380. Average protein intake for males was 60.5 ± 13 gms/day and 42.5 ± 12 gms/day for females. Main sources of calories were from bread, cereal (38.4%), fats and oils group (33.5%). Average intake of milk, vegetables and fruit group was less than the recommended servings. Physical activity level was assessed and only 44% were found to be physically active. Conclusion: Increased body weight, improper dietary composition and sedentary life style can pose a risk for developing diet-related chronic diseases. Dietary intake of certain food groups was not optimal as per recommendations e.g. fruit, vegetable and milk group. Bread and cereal group contributed the most to protein intake, in the studied group instead of protein sources. Therefore dietary and life style modification is needed to lower the risk of diet relate chronic diseases.

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