Healthy food and dietary patterns: a cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Obesity affects over 65% of Saudi Arabia's population, increasing risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Addressing obesity requires understanding public awareness of healthy dietary choices.
• Public health initiatives are crucial to combatting the obesity epidemic in Saudi Arabia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess awareness and perceptions of healthy eating among Riyadh residents.
• To identify factors influencing knowledge of healthy dietary choices in Saudi Arabia.
• To inform targeted public health strategies for improving nutrition.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Dec 2024 - Feb 2025).
• Online bilingual questionnaire administered to adults (≥18 years).
• Assessed knowledge, perceptions, and barriers; analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression (SPSS v29).

Main Results:

• Being married correlated with higher healthy eating knowledge (adjusted β = 1.337, p=0.035).
• Arabic speakers showed significantly lower knowledge than English speakers (adjusted β = -1.555, p<0.001).
• Individuals with higher education (bachelor's+) had lower knowledge than high school graduates (adjusted β = -0.842, p=0.041).

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in dietary knowledge exist across demographic groups in Riyadh.
• Tailored interventions are needed for Arabic speakers, young adults, and highly educated individuals.
• Culturally sensitive, language-specific education is vital for improving healthy eating awareness and reducing obesity.