Article
Cluster analysis for food group consumption patterns in a national sample of Palestinian schoolchildren: Evidence from HBSC Survey 2013-2014
Al-Quds Journal for Academic Research
(2021)
Abstract
Background: Promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle to reduce the national burden of nutrition-related problems
among Palestinians requires an understanding of food consumption trends and patterns. Few studies have
examined the food consumption patterns with the macro and micronutrient intakes and nutrition risk factors.
The objective of this study was to study the food frequency and nutrient intake consumption patterns of
Palestinian schoolchildren and their associations with the socioeconomic and risk factors.This is a national
cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on Palestinian schoolchildren from the West Bank. The study examined
the food consumption patterns of the macro and micronutrient intakes and nutrition risk factors among 1945
students aged 11-16 years. The data collected using the food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall that
was administered by trained field workers. Food groups’ classification, nutrient intakes, body mass index (BMI)
Z-scores, and socioeconomic di!erences were examined across the food groups’ patterns of consumption. We
employed Z-score and K-Means cluster analysis to identify food consumption patterns and to examine factors
associated with nutrient intakes. The food frequency results identified three food consumption clusters including
the traditional, non-traditional, and mixed pattern. A total of 796 students (41%) were in traditional cluster, 458
(23.5%) in non-traditional cluster, and 691(35.5%) in mixed cluster. The nutrient intakes identified three clusters
(High, Moderate, and Low consumption patterns) out of macronutrient, vitamins, and minerals categories. Most
of the students located in the low consumption cluster for macronutrient, vitamins, and minerals clusters (66.9%,
67.7%, and 64 %) respectively. The traditional cluster was associated with healthy, non-obese, and physically
active students and the non-traditional cluster was associated with unhealthy and obese students, but both
shown significantly di!erent across the identified clusters. Imbalance in dietary intakes among schoolchildren
reflects a lack of dietary diversity. High sugar, fats and oils, and beverages consumption, low consumption of
grains, fruits, beans and legumes, and meat are noticed in Palestinian schoolchildren. The findings indicated
the importance of considering the food groups' intake variations among Palestinian schoolchildren. As the
segments relate to children’s health, nutrition diet programs should consider the high scores of non-traditional
and mixed food consumption among schoolschildren.
Keywords
- Cluster analysis; consumption patterns; nutrients; socioeconomic status; diet,
- food group patterns,
- schoolchildren
Disciplines
Publication Date
2021
Citation Information
Radwan Qasrawi, Diala Abu Al Halawa, Haleama Al Sabbah, Rawan M Fayyad, et al.. "Cluster analysis for food group consumption patterns in a national sample of Palestinian schoolchildren: Evidence from HBSC Survey 2013-2014" Al-Quds Journal for Academic Research (2021) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/haleama-alsabbah/31/