Proatherrogenic diet and lifestyle factors among health professionals in Iran

Background: Eating behavior, dietary intakes and physical inactivity are important pro-atherogenic risk factors known to underlie cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The advice and practices of physicians and nurses are important to follow for the prevention of CVDs. In this study we intend to track eating habit and physical activity status as proatherogenic risk factors, among nurses and physicians. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional survey included 200 physicians and 300 nurses, all volunteers, who after giving written informed consent, were selected by random numbers. The study was approved by the ethics committee of KMUS and was carried out in 2011-2012. Dietary habits and physical activity were assessed by validated questionnaires. Results: The mean BMI was 23.94 ± 3.50 kg/m2. About 50% of the whole study population consumed breakfast regularly. Regular consumption of meals was observed in 10.8%; 2.7% never took a meal. Of total subjects, in 87.5% of the population, lunch was the main meal, and 18.6% of them had more than 3 meals per day; on the other hand, 58.3% of nurses had 3 meals. More than 50% of physicians and nurses reported interest in eating. More than 50% of physicians and nurses reported fast eating; 11.2% did so habitually. Lack of appetite was more frequent than overeating. Less than 50% of the participants had regular moderate physical activity; more than 50% of them reported walking as their main exercise. Conclusion: Average BMI was within normal limits, but adverse eating behaviors were noted among the participants. Regular breakfast consumption is important, but only 50% of them ate breakfast regularly. Experts now recommend eating more than 3 meals in a day, but only 20% of participants followed this advice. Correct knowledge from nutrition science can have beneficial effects on eating patterns, resulting in decline of proatherogenic risk factors. An acceptable BMI may be related to regular physical activity in more than 50% of subjects. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.