BackgroundChanges in dietary habits and lifestyle are considered the main factors associated with several diet-related diseases in the Arab Gulf countries. The aim of this study was, therefore, to describe the dietary and lifestyle habits amongst adolescents in Bahrain.DesignA cross-sectional study was carried out amongst male and female secondary school students selected using the multi-stage stratified random sampling technique. A sample size of 735 subjects (339 males and 396 females), aged 15–18 years, was selected from government schools from all the governorates of Bahrain.ResultsSkipping breakfast was significantly greater in females (62.8%) compared to males (37.2%), (P<0.01). About 88% of adolescents snacked during school break, 70.7% procuring food from the school canteen. Fruit was not consumed by about 27.7% of respondents (33.5% males, 66.5% females) and the gender difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Fish and lentils were less preferred, while chicken was more popular. There was no significant difference between gender and frequency of eating fast food. About 8.4% of respondents reported not eating burgers, with 68.8% preferring regular size burgers. Furthermore, 24.4% preferred large portions of potato chips (53.1% male, 46.9% female). About 29.8% watched TV for more than 5 hours a day (51.2% females, 48.8% males). About 69% of males practiced sports everyday as against 30.8% of females (P<0.01) and 81.6% of those who participated in sport activity outside school were males compared to 18.4% of females.ConclusionIt seems that the adolescents in Bahrain are moving toward unhealthy dietary habits and lifestyles, which in turn will affect their health status in the future. Promoting healthy lifestyle and eating habits should be given a priority in school health programs.

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PurposeThe aim of this study is to determine the nutritional profile of foods provided by the governmental school canteens in Bahrain.Design/methodology/approachNine types of foods commonly provided in 45 schools in Bahrain were analyzed for their proximate, mineral and heavy metal composition. Proximate composition was determined by measuring the moisture, ash, fat, protein (N × 6.25), crude fiber and carbohydrate content. Minerals and heavy metals were measured using flame or atomic absorption spectroscopy. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC), as their methyl esters and sterols in the extracted fat were determined quantitatively by GLC.FindingsProximate analysis indicated protein content in the range of 8.14‐12.52 g/100 g, while fat content was below 10 g/100 g in all the foods, except thymes bakery (16.87 g/100 g). Consequently, thymes bakery also had higher energy values (376.15 kcal/100 g). Carbohydrates ranged between 33.86 and 47.29 g/100 g and fiber was high in the broad beans sandwich (1.16 g/100 g). Liver sandwich had considerable amount of iron (43.8 ppm), zinc (23.8 ppm) and potassium (3,360 ppm), while pizza was a good source of calcium (2,190 ppm). Lead was detected in 89 per cent of the foods, the highest being in pizza (0.234 ppm), being but contamination was well within the permitted limit. Aluminum was detected in 78 per cent of the foods, the highest level being observed in the chicken sandwich (10.8 ppm).Originality/valueThe results of this study can be utilized to improve the nutritive value of foods provided in the school feeding programme in the country.

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the commonly consumed fast foods in Bahrain with respect to proximate, mineral, sterol composition and their fatty acid profile. Design/methodology/approach -Foods were purchased from the most frequented fast food outlets in Manama city, the capital of Bahrain. Similar types of foods were pooled into one sample. Proximate composition was determined in duplicate by the standard procedure of the AOAC. Mineral concentrations were determined by using either electro thermal or flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer and fatty acids were analyzed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC) as per standard procedure. Findings -Proximate analysis showed a wide variation in the composition and nutritive value. Moisture, fat, protein, carbohydrate and fiber contents ranged from 30. 35-54.02, 8.74-17.33, 4.41-18.23 (n £ 6:25), 12.14-43.81 and 0.56-3.43 %w/w respectively. The range in the energy value was between 215.0-349.0 Kcal/100 g. Most of the foods were rich in sodium, calcium, iron, and zinc being in the range of 4315.0-7890.9, 337. 1-1893.1, 3.25-82.26, and 4.88-22.62 ppm respectively while potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese were present to a lesser extent. Cholesterol levels were negligible in the vegetable dishes but high in dishes with meat and dairy products (,1.00-35.47 mg/100 g). Considerable levels of b-sitosterol (4.96-20.20 mg/100 g) were present. The most prominent fatty acids were oleic (32.9-50.4 mg/100 g), linoleic (5.0-33.6 mg/100 g) and palmitic acid (16.8-24.9 mg/100 g). Originality/value -It is essential that calorie-dense foods with minimal nutritional content must return to their role as occasional discretionary items in an otherwise balanced diet.