Lower habitual Intake of grains and protein groups associated with increasing the disease risk among Jordanians: A cross-sectional population-based study

Background

Dietary habits have drastically and quickly altered worldwide, and this is a crucial modifiable factor affecting obesity prevalence, a risk factor for several non-communicable diseases.

Aims

This study aims to illuminate Jordanians' dietary habits and their potential association with non-communicable diseases.

Methods

This is a population-based cross-sectional study. A randomly selected sample of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults was invited to participate. Participants were categorized into two groups: those with diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and their comorbidities) and those who had no diseases. A valid food frequency questionnaire was used to recall each food group's average daily number of portions.

Results

The intake and percentage of recommendations from the groups that included fruits, cereals, and proteins were highest in the obese group. Disease-free individuals had the highest daily intake of proteins and grains, and a higher percentage of grains consumed. Compared to individuals without a condition (83.6 % and 57.6 %, respectively), participants with a disease were more likely to consume less protein (68.8 %) and grains (87.6 %) than the recommended amount. Less than the required amount of grain consumption raises the risk of disease by OR = 1.57 (95%CI: 1.05–2.34). The chance of contracting diseases is reduced when more grains are consumed than recommended (p-trend = 0.001). A lower-than-recommended protein intake doubled the risk of disease (OR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.13–3.84).

Conclusion

Obesity shifts habitual food toward more fruits, grains, and protein consumption. Grains and protein consumption less than recommendations were associated with increasing the risk of having disease.