PD646 - CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIOR, LIFESTYLE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND BODY COMPOSITION AMONG FEMALE CLINICAL DIETITIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

PD646

CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIOR, LIFESTYLE, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND BODY COMPOSITION AMONG FEMALE CLINICAL DIETITIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

D. Alwagndany¹, N. A. Hakim^1,*

¹Clinical Nutrition Department, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Rationale: Clinical dietitians are expected to maintain healthy lifestyles; however, environmental and socioeconomic barriers may influence their dietary habits, physical activity, and body composition, with limited longitudinal evidence available in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to evaluate changes over time in these factors among female clinical dietitians and to examine the impact of environmental and socioeconomic barriers on these outcomes.

Methods: A longitudinal pretest–posttest design was conducted, comparing baseline data from 2019 with follow-up data in 2025 for the same cohort of clinical nutrition students after graduation (n = 72). Data were collected using validated self-administered questionnaires and InBody measurements, with identical instruments and procedures applied at both time points.

Results: Eating behavior improved significantly over time (p = 0.004), alongside increases in supplement use (p = 0.046) and total weekly physical activity duration (p = 0.042). However, these positive changes were accompanied by unfavorable trends in body composition, including increases in waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.002) and body fat indicators (p = 0.054). Environmental and socioeconomic barriers—particularly limited time, financial constraints, hot climate, and lack of walkable spaces—were significantly associated with increases in BMI, fat percentage, and body weight (p = 0.011–0.031).

Conclusion: Despite their expertise, dietitians’ health behaviors are significantly influenced by environmental and socioeconomic barriers. Addressing these challenges through supportive policies and environments is essential to promote sustainable healthy lifestyles and enhance their role in public health.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared