Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used tools in epidemiologic studies to assess long-term nutritional exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a culture specific FFQ for A...

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Main Authors: Yusuf Salim, Nusrath Fathimunissa, Yusufali AfzalHussein, Al Hamad Nawal, Dehghan Mahshid, Merchant Anwar T
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2005-05-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
Online Access:http://www.nutritionj.com/content/4/1/18
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author Yusuf Salim
Nusrath Fathimunissa
Yusufali AfzalHussein
Al Hamad Nawal
Dehghan Mahshid
Merchant Anwar T
author_facet Yusuf Salim
Nusrath Fathimunissa
Yusufali AfzalHussein
Al Hamad Nawal
Dehghan Mahshid
Merchant Anwar T
author_sort Yusuf Salim
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used tools in epidemiologic studies to assess long-term nutritional exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a culture specific FFQ for Arab populations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed samples of Arab populations over 18 years old in UAE and Kuwait assessing their dietary intakes using 24-hour dietary recall. Based on the most commonly reported foods and portion sizes, we constructed a food list with the units of measurement. The food list was converted to a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ) format following the basic pattern of SFFQ using usual reported portions. The long SFFQ was field-tested, shortened and developed into the final SFFQ.</p> <p>To estimate nutrients from mixed dishes we collected recipes of those mixed dishes that were commonly eaten, and estimated their nutritional content by using nutrient values of the ingredients that took into account method of preparation from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Composition Database.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The SFFQs consist of 153 and 152 items for UAE and Kuwait, respectively. The participants reported average intakes over the past year. On average the participants reported eating 3.4 servings/d of fruits and 3.1 servings/d of vegetables in UAE versus 2.8 servings/d of fruits and 3.2 servings/d of vegetables in Kuwait. Participants reported eating cereals 4.8 times/d in UAE and 5.3 times/d in Kuwait. The mean intake of dairy products was 2.2/d in UAE and 3.4 among Kuwaiti.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have developed SFFQs to measure diet in UAE and Kuwait that will serve the needs of public health researchers and clinicians and are currently validating those instruments.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-2d092efb534243579633452e2752aafe2022-12-21T22:01:45ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912005-05-01411810.1186/1475-2891-4-18Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foodsYusuf SalimNusrath FathimunissaYusufali AfzalHusseinAl Hamad NawalDehghan MahshidMerchant Anwar T<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) is one of the most commonly used tools in epidemiologic studies to assess long-term nutritional exposure. The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a culture specific FFQ for Arab populations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed samples of Arab populations over 18 years old in UAE and Kuwait assessing their dietary intakes using 24-hour dietary recall. Based on the most commonly reported foods and portion sizes, we constructed a food list with the units of measurement. The food list was converted to a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ) format following the basic pattern of SFFQ using usual reported portions. The long SFFQ was field-tested, shortened and developed into the final SFFQ.</p> <p>To estimate nutrients from mixed dishes we collected recipes of those mixed dishes that were commonly eaten, and estimated their nutritional content by using nutrient values of the ingredients that took into account method of preparation from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Composition Database.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The SFFQs consist of 153 and 152 items for UAE and Kuwait, respectively. The participants reported average intakes over the past year. On average the participants reported eating 3.4 servings/d of fruits and 3.1 servings/d of vegetables in UAE versus 2.8 servings/d of fruits and 3.2 servings/d of vegetables in Kuwait. Participants reported eating cereals 4.8 times/d in UAE and 5.3 times/d in Kuwait. The mean intake of dairy products was 2.2/d in UAE and 3.4 among Kuwaiti.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have developed SFFQs to measure diet in UAE and Kuwait that will serve the needs of public health researchers and clinicians and are currently validating those instruments.</p>http://www.nutritionj.com/content/4/1/18
spellingShingle Yusuf Salim
Nusrath Fathimunissa
Yusufali AfzalHussein
Al Hamad Nawal
Dehghan Mahshid
Merchant Anwar T
Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
Nutrition Journal
title Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
title_full Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
title_fullStr Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
title_full_unstemmed Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
title_short Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in United Arab Emirates and Kuwait based on local foods
title_sort development of a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire for use in united arab emirates and kuwait based on local foods
url http://www.nutritionj.com/content/4/1/18
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