Comparative Analysis of Dietary Fat Intake among Female University Students in Riyadh: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Health Sciences versus Non-Health Sciences Disciplines

Abstract

Background: In the global burden of non-communicable diseases, the top slot among them all is occupied by various cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which also claim primacy in mortality rates. Generally speaking, the pathophysiological pathway frequently involves either (or a combination of) elevated serum cholesterol levels, predominantly attributed to dietary patterns characterized by extremely high levels of saturated and trans-fat consumption. Day-to-day nutritional epidemiology among university students suggests that they represent a crucial demographic for the study of preventive interventions. Objective: This in-depth study and investigation were specifically aimed to quantitatively assess and compare prevailing patterns of dietary fat consumption between female students enrolled in health sciences and non-health sciences programs at major universities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was comprised of 434 Saudi female university students (age range: 18 - 25 years), utilizing a validated Block Dietary Fat Screener accompanied by anthropometric measurements and comprehensive demographic data collection. The sampling methodology consisted of a snowball technique that was spread across three major academic institutions in Riyadh. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between academic specialization and patterns of dietary fat consumption ( p = 0.012). Paradoxically, students of health science exhibited a higher prevalence of very high fat intake (41.9%) compared with their non-health sciences counterparts (27.6%). Surprisingly, anthropometric stratification revealed that it was the underweight students who demonstrated very high levels of fat consumption. A notable socioeconomic gradient was observed, with students from households earning 15,000 - 20,000 SR monthly showing the highest prevalence of very high-fat consumption (47.1%), although this association did not achieve statistical significance ( p = 0.104). Conclusion: These findings challenge the conventional assumption that health sciences education correlates with superior dietary behaviors. The data suggests a critical need for enhanced education in nutrition, as well as intervention using various behavioral programs across all academic disciplines, particularly those addressing the disconnect between nutritional knowledge and dietary practices among students of health sciences. Future longitudinal studies are warranted in order to elucidate the temporal relationship between academic specialization and dietary behaviors.