Is Calorie Labeling on Menus Related to Weight Disturbances among Females in Saudi Arabia?
Table 1
Calories, anthropometric measurements, calorie information, weight concern, weight perception, and weight-control behaviors in the two groups (N = 333).
Variables
Control group, 169 (50.8%)
Experimental group, 164 (49.2%)
Age/years (mean ± SD)
20.46 ± 1.83
20.30 ± 1.71
0.388$
Marital status
Unmarried
134 (81.7%)
137 (81.1%)
0.880#
Married
30 (18.3%)
32 (18.9%)
Monthly income (SR)
Less than 5000
49 (29.8%)
47 (27.8%)
0.706#
More than 5000
115 (70.2%)
122 (72.2.1%)
Calories (mean ± SD)
585.20 ± 233.41
526.10 ± 205.02
0.015$
Weight (kg) (mean ± SD)
54.40 ± 11.10
54.02 ± 10.37
0.752$
BMI kg/(m2) (mean ± SD)
22.04 ± 4.12
21.93 ± 4.14
0.815$
BMI categories
Underweight
33 (19.5%)
36 (22%)
0.882#
Normal
99 (58.6%)
89 (54.3%)
Overweight
29 (17.2%)
30 (18.3%)
Obese
8 (4.7%)
9 (5.4%)
Have you noticed any calorie information while purchasing a meal or snack in any type of restaurant?
Yes
134 (79.3%)
137 (83.5%)
0.001#
No
35 (20.7%)
27 (16.5%)
Did you use that calorie information when deciding what to order?
Yes
62 (36.7%)
106 (64.6%)
0.001#
No
107 (63.3%)
58 (35.4%)
How did you use that calorie information when deciding what to order? Only for who answer the previous question yes.
(1) Avoided ordering high-calorie menu items.
4 (6.5%)
3 (2.8%)
0.001#
(2) Sometimes I do not order high-calorie food.
15 (24.2%)
20 (19%)
(3) Decided on a smaller portion size.
18 (29%)
64 (60.2%)
(4) I ordered my regular meal. Calories do not affect me.
25 (40.3%)
19 (18%)
Women’s daily calorie needs are
(1) 1,800 calories
49 (29.0%)
56 (34.2%)
0.597#
(2) 2,000 calories
106 (62.7%)
95 (57.9%)
(3) 2,500 calories
14 (8.3%)
13 (7.9%)
#Chi-square test, $t-test, , and , SR: Saudi riyal.
