Selected clinical risk factors for lifestyle diseases in relation to the current dietary practices of sponsored vs. non-sponsored African university students in Durban
Authors:   , Mposula Zibuyile A. 
Published: June 2021

Selected clinical risk factors for lifestyle diseases in relation to the current dietary practices of sponsored vs. non-sponsored African university students in Durban Aim: This research study aimed to assess and compare the dietary practices of sponsored Durban University of Technology (DUT) students with those of non-sponsored DUT students. The study also aimed to determine whether the students had any clinical risk factors related to lifestyle diseases such as elevated blood pressure, raised blood glucose, abnormal blood lipids and overweight/obesity. Methodology: Two-hundred-and-sixty African university students, aged 18-35 years, living in Durban were randomly selected for this survey. The socio-demographic and anthropometric profiles were recorded, and the dietary intake, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol of participants were measured and recorded. In order to determine the prevalence of risk markers, the World Health Organisation (WHO) cut-off points were used. Quantitative capacities comprised of socio-economic parameters through means of a socio-demographic questionnaires, were administered during the recruitment stage in order to determine the socio-economic profile of the participants. Results: More sponsored males (58.46%; n=76) than females (41.54%; n=54) and more non- sponsored females (53.08%; n=69) than males (46.92%; n=61) participated in this study. The mean age of the non-sponsored participants was 20.33 years (±SD 2.22) and the mean age of the sponsored participants was 22.15 years (±SD of 3.26) indicating that most sponsored participants were older than the non-sponsored participants. Most (59.62%; n=155) of the participants were in their first year of study, 18.45% (n=48) were in their third year of study and 13.85% (n=36) were in their second year of study. The rest (8.08%; n=21) of the participants were either in their fourth year of study or at postgraduate level. More (86.92%; n=113) of the sponsored than non-sponsored participants (70.77%; n=92) stated that they had either seldom or never been in a situation where they did not have enough money to buy food. More (12.31%; n=16) non-sponsored than sponsored participants (5.38%; n=7) stated that they either always or often had a problem of not having enough money to buy food indicating that more sponsored than non-sponsored participants were food secure. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference (WC) of ≥94 cm for male participants and ≥80 cm for female participants. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥85 mmHg and elevated fasting blood glucose was defined as ≥5.6 mmol/L. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as >1.7 mmol/L and hypercholesterolemia was defined as ≥5.2 mmol/L. Body mass index higher than 25 kg/m² was recorded for 34.62% (n=45) of the non-sponsored participants and 27.69% (n=36) of the sponsored participants. More non-sponsored (17.69%; n=23) than sponsored participants (13.85%; n=18) were centrally obese. A SBP higher than 130 mmHg was recorded for 8.46% (n=11) of the non- sponsored participants and 9.23% (n=12) of the sponsored participants. DBP higher than 85 mmHg was recorded for 7.69% (n=10) of the non-sponsored participants and 10.77% (n=14) of the sponsored participants. Blood pressure results indicated that more sponsored than non- sponsored participants were hypertensive. Only 1.54% (n=2) of the non-sponsored participants and none of the sponsored participants had elevated fasting blood glucose levels. More (43.85%; n=57) non-sponsored than sponsored participants (38.46%; n=50) recorded elevated fasting blood triglyceride levels. More (4.62%; n=6) non-sponsored than sponsored participants (3.85%; n=5) recorded elevated total serum cholesterol levels. The mean energy intake was lower than the recommended 12 881 kJ for males and 10 093 kJ for female for both sponsored and non-sponsored participants. Non-sponsored male participants had a mean energy intake of 5485 kJ and the sponsored male participants had a mean energy intake of 6414 kJ. Non-sponsored female participants had a mean intake of 5501 kJ while sponsored female participants had a mean intake of 4786 kJ. Sponsored compared to non-sponsored male participants recorded a higher total fat intake (52 g vs. 39 g) and a higher carbohydrate intake (196 g vs. 178 g). The carbohydrate intake was higher than the recommended intake of 100 g for both sponsored and non-sponsored male participants. Non- sponsored compared to sponsored female participants recorded a higher total fat intake (47 g vs. 40 g) and a higher carbohydrate intake (165 g vs. 143 g). The carbohydrate intake was also higher than the recommended intake of 100 g for both sponsored and non-sponsored female participants. The most popular food item consumed was bread for both males and females. The frequency intake of bread in 24 hours was 35 g for non-sponsored male participants and 65 g for sponsored male participants. The frequency intake of bread in 24 hours was 51 g for non- sponsored female participants and 39 g for sponsored female participants. The frequency intake of diluted cold drink in 24 hours was 28 for non-sponsored male participants and 21 for sponsored male participants. However, the results also indicated that non-sponsored male participants consumed less (6328 g) carbonated cold drink than the sponsored group of male participants (9992 g). Non-sponsored males consumed more (90 g) of fruit and vegetables than sponsored male participants (73 g). Non-sponsored females also consumed more (70 g) of fruit and vegetables than sponsored female participants (61 g). Conclusion: The overall results of the study indicated that the non-sponsored group possessed higher clinical risk markers for lifestyle diseases. However, sponsored male participants consumed more fat and energy compared to non-sponsored male participants. Non-sponsored female participants consumed more fat and energy than sponsored female participants. Such results suggest that most interventions aimed at modifying students’ eating habits have met with varied success. This could be the result of the students’ lack of understanding regarding components that govern dietary and physical activity principles and the behaviour of young people. It is evident that dietary modification an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables, and a decreased intake of fat and energy consumption is required. The data acquired from this research study is essential as it could be of assistance in designing nutrition education interventions for university students in order to deal with the problems that have been identified.