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Nutrition in pre-war Sarajevo
S Zec1, B Telebak, O Sljepcevic
1Institute of Hygiene, Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Pre-war Sarajevo non-manual workers had high food intake and low physical activity, leading to significant obesity and hypertension. These lifestyle factors negatively impacted the health of this population group.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Assessing the health and lifestyle of non-manual workers is crucial for understanding population health trends.
- Pre-war Sarajevo provides a unique context for studying the impact of lifestyle on health outcomes before major societal changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the nutritional status, dietary habits, and lifestyle of non-manual workers in Sarajevo.
- To identify potential health risks associated with diet and lifestyle in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A nutrition and health survey was conducted in 1990-1991 involving 1860 healthy non-manual employees.
- Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements and Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Dietary intake, health status, and lifestyle habits were collected via individual questionnaires.
Main Results:
- High energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake exceeded recommendations.
- Significant rates of obesity (12% women, 5.5% men) and underweight (4.3%) were observed.
- High prevalence of heavy smoking (34.3% men, 27.3% women), alcohol consumption (18.1% men), and hypertension (16.2% men, 11.6% women) were reported.
Conclusions:
- Pre-war Sarajevo non-manual workers exhibited high food consumption, particularly of meat and fatty foods.
- Low physical activity levels, combined with high caloric intake and alcohol consumption, contributed to high rates of obesity and hypertension.
- Elevated living standards and sedentary lifestyles negatively impacted the health of this occupational group.