Examining the relationship between fast-food and sitdown restaurant consumption frequency and dietary patterns among adults in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

Alwagait, Enas and Alhassoun, Arwa and Abulkhair, Salma and Altwijry, Shahad and Alajlan, Haya and Alaali, Hajer and Mohammed Bawazeer, Nahla (2023) Examining the relationship between fast-food and sitdown restaurant consumption frequency and dietary patterns among adults in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Malaysia), 29 (3). pp. 415-429. ISSN 1394 – 035X

Introduction: This study assessed the association between dietary patterns and the frequency of eating at fast-food or sit-down restaurants. Methods: A crosssectional study, with a sample of adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SA), was conducted between January and March 2021. An online, self-administered survey was conducted using social media and WhatsApp. A total of 399 adults living in Riyadh were included; 40.4% were males, with a mean age of 35 and standard deviation (SD) of 12 years, and had no significant health problems. Results: Using principal component analysis to analyse 15 food groups based on the food items consumed, four dietary patterns were extracted: Western, unhealthy, plant-based, and healthy. After adjusting for potential covariates, a higher frequency of eating at fast-food restaurants was significantly associated with unhealthy dietary patterns [odds ratio (OR) = 4.85, 95.0% confidence interval (CI) = 1.80, 12.59]. In contrast, participants in the highest tercile of the frequency of eating at fast-food restaurants showed lower odds of adhering to a healthy dietary pattern (OR = 0.29, 95.0% CI = 0.11, 0.71). No significant association was found between participants in the highest tercile of the frequency of eating at sit-down restaurants and their dietary patterns. Conclusion: Frequently eating at fast-food restaurants was associated with increased odds of adherence to less healthy dietary patterns and negatively associated with adherence to a healthy pattern. No association was found between sit-down restaurants and any of the identified dietary patterns. The present findings can assist stakeholders and policymakers in developing strategic plans and policies for targeted interventions for this population.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/29-3/V...

Abstract

Introduction: This study assessed the association between dietary patterns and the frequency of eating at fast-food or sit-down restaurants. Methods: A crosssectional study, with a sample of adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (SA), was conducted between January and March 2021. An online, self-administered survey was conducted using social media and WhatsApp. A total of 399 adults living in Riyadh were included; 40.4% were males, with a mean age of 35 and standard deviation (SD) of 12 years, and had no significant health problems. Results: Using principal component analysis to analyse 15 food groups based on the food items consumed, four dietary patterns were extracted: Western, unhealthy, plant-based, and healthy. After adjusting for potential covariates, a higher frequency of eating at fast-food restaurants was significantly associated with unhealthy dietary patterns [odds ratio (OR) = 4.85, 95.0% confidence interval (CI) = 1.80, 12.59]. In contrast, participants in the highest tercile of the frequency of eating at fast-food restaurants showed lower odds of adhering to a healthy dietary pattern (OR = 0.29, 95.0% CI = 0.11, 0.71). No significant association was found between participants in the highest tercile of the frequency of eating at sit-down restaurants and their dietary patterns. Conclusion: Frequently eating at fast-food restaurants was associated with increased odds of adherence to less healthy dietary patterns and negatively associated with adherence to a healthy pattern. No association was found between sit-down restaurants and any of the identified dietary patterns. The present findings can assist stakeholders and policymakers in developing strategic plans and policies for targeted interventions for this population.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	food consumption
AGROVOC Term:	fast food
AGROVOC Term:	food consumption
AGROVOC Term:	surveys
AGROVOC Term:	adults
AGROVOC Term:	restaurants
AGROVOC Term:	principal component analysis
AGROVOC Term:	health
AGROVOC Term:	diet
Geographical Term:	Saudi Arabia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dietary pattern, fast-food restaurants, principal component, analysis, Saudi Arabia, sit-down restaurants
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	16 Jun 2026 01:48
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 01:48
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3613

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