Association of Vitamin D Knowledge, Behavior and Attitude with BMI Status among Arab Adults

Nasser M. Al-Daghri (), Hanan Alfawaz, Nasiruddin Khan, Yousef Al-Saleh, Naji J. Aljohani, Dara Aldisi, Ghadah Alkhaldi, Amani M. Alqarni, Hadeel O. Almasoudi, Lina A. Alshehri, Rinad M. Alanzi, Malak N. K. Khattak, Mohamed A. Elsaid and Majed S. Alokail ()
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Nasser M. Al-Daghri: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Hanan Alfawaz: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Nasiruddin Khan: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, College of Applied and Health Sciences, A’Sharqiyah University, Ibra 400, Oman
Yousef Al-Saleh: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Naji J. Aljohani: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Dara Aldisi: Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ghadah Alkhaldi: Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Amani M. Alqarni: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Hadeel O. Almasoudi: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Lina A. Alshehri: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Rinad M. Alanzi: Department of Food Science & Nutrition, College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia
Malak N. K. Khattak: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed A. Elsaid: Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Majed S. Alokail: Protein Research Chair, Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the association of vitamin D (VD) knowledge, behavior, and attitude with BMI status among Saudi adults. This cross-sectional online survey included a total of 774 participants (M/F: 239/535). Knowledge about the overall sources of VD was highest in OB participants in correctly identifying sunlight (95.1%; p < 0.001) while significantly more OW participants answered food (83.1%; p = 0.04) and fortified food (66.5%; p = 0.02). However, 18.9% of OB participants also wrongly identified air as a VD source and this was significantly higher than in other groups ( p = 0.03). OW participants were 50% less likely to identify salmon and fish oil (odds ratio, OR 0.5 (95% Confidence interval, CI 0.4–0.7); p < 0.01) and 40% more likely to identify chicken (OR 1.4 (1.0–1.9); p < 0.05) as dietary sources of VD than controls. On the other hand, OB participants were almost three times more likely to know that sunlight exposure is the main source of VD than controls (OR 2.65 (1.2–6.0); p < 0.05). In conclusion, while VD knowledge overall was apparently high in Saudi adults regardless of BMI status, the quality of knowledge among OB and OW individuals appear inconsistent, particularly in terms of identifying the right VD sources. Public health awareness campaigns should include the correction of VD misconceptions so that high-risk populations are able to make well-informed decisions in achieving optimal VD levels.

Keywords: vitamin D; BMI; knowledge; behavior; attitude; sun exposure; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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