Furthermore, this study showed that expatriates had significant negative effects on behavioural risk factors after residing in KSA, namely: high rate of physical inactivity, high consumption of fast food, low consumption of fruit and vegetable.
Overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, smoking and low dietary fibre intake are all associated with an increased breast cancer risk after menopause [ 4– 7] and are still present and modifiable at a later age.
Body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and WHR≥0.85, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, heavy consumption of alcohol, older age as well as high social status and Hausa Fulani or Ibibio origin were associated with significantly higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Behaviours such as smoking, food choice, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption are well recognised determinants of health [ 5].
Obesity, especially central obesity, and increased visceral fat due to physical inactivity and consumption of high-calorie/high-fat and high-sugar diets are major contributing factors for it.
A multivariate Cox proportional-hazard model was used to assess the independent contribution of risk factors (age, smoking, BMI, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, education level, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cancer history and diabetes) to mortality in the cohort (Table 2).
Including blacks in this group (who exhibit high levels of physical inactivity and consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods) (32) underestimates differences in diabetes-related behaviors between women at the highest risk (i.e., Latinas) and those at lowest risk (i.e., whites).
3 Unless treated, the disease may lead to serious complications including chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases, leading to major economic impacts. 1 The prevalence of T2DM is also expected to rise further due to the increased rates of risk factors associated with the disease, such as obesity, physical inactivity, and consumption of dietary fat.
Such modifiable risks include behavioural factors (e.g. diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption), medical conditions (e.g. dyslipidemia, hypertension, overweight, hyperinsulinaemia) and societal factors including include a complex mixture of interacting socioeconomic, cultural and environmental factors [ 14, 15].
