TY - JOUR
T1 - Differences in food intake and disparity in obesity rates between adult Jews and Bedouins in Southern Israel
AU - Fraser, Drora
AU - Bilenko, Natalya
AU - Vardy, Hillel
AU - Abu-Saad, Kathleene
AU - Shai, Iris
AU - Abu-Shareb, Heijar
AU - Shahar, Danit R.
PY - 2008/12/1
Y1 - 2008/12/1
N2 - Objective: The goal of this study was to compare eating patterns of Jews and Muslim Bedouins and investigate possible dietary causes for discrepancy in obesity rates. Methods: We pooled two surveys that included data from 793 Jews and 169 Bedouins aged 35-64 years recruited from 1998 through 2003 in southern Israel. For the Jewish sample, we used a proportional geographic cluster random sample of persons aged ≥ 35 years. For the Bedouins, a convenience sample of 519 participants was used. Participants were interviewed at home, using modified 24-hour food questionnaires with additional questions regarding health and eating habits. Results: The Jewish group was older and better educated than were the Bedouins. The Bedouins had a higher age-adjusted body mass index than did the Jews (P=.03), and the rate of obesity was higher among Bedouins than Jews (27.9% vs 20.0%, respectively). Compared to Jewish men, Bedouin men reported lower intake of fat, cholesterol, total saturated fat, and protein and fat as a percentage of total energy, but they reported higher intake of carbohydrates, fiber, and carbohydrates as a percentage of total energy. Bedouin women reported lower intake of total saturated fat, percentage of protein and fat, and higher intake of carbohydrates and fiber than did Jewish women. Conclusion: The Bedouin population is adapting Western eating patterns that appear to be associated with increased obesity. To address this problem, culturally sensitive intervention programs will have to be developed.
AB - Objective: The goal of this study was to compare eating patterns of Jews and Muslim Bedouins and investigate possible dietary causes for discrepancy in obesity rates. Methods: We pooled two surveys that included data from 793 Jews and 169 Bedouins aged 35-64 years recruited from 1998 through 2003 in southern Israel. For the Jewish sample, we used a proportional geographic cluster random sample of persons aged ≥ 35 years. For the Bedouins, a convenience sample of 519 participants was used. Participants were interviewed at home, using modified 24-hour food questionnaires with additional questions regarding health and eating habits. Results: The Jewish group was older and better educated than were the Bedouins. The Bedouins had a higher age-adjusted body mass index than did the Jews (P=.03), and the rate of obesity was higher among Bedouins than Jews (27.9% vs 20.0%, respectively). Compared to Jewish men, Bedouin men reported lower intake of fat, cholesterol, total saturated fat, and protein and fat as a percentage of total energy, but they reported higher intake of carbohydrates, fiber, and carbohydrates as a percentage of total energy. Bedouin women reported lower intake of total saturated fat, percentage of protein and fat, and higher intake of carbohydrates and fiber than did Jewish women. Conclusion: The Bedouin population is adapting Western eating patterns that appear to be associated with increased obesity. To address this problem, culturally sensitive intervention programs will have to be developed.
KW - Bedouins
KW - Dietary intake
KW - Jews
KW - Lifestyle
KW - Obesity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47549111369&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 18447093
AN - SCOPUS:47549111369
SN - 1049-510X
VL - 18
SP - 13
EP - 18
JO - Ethnicity and Disease
JF - Ethnicity and Disease
IS - 1
ER -