Table 2 Distribution of the studied multiple sclerosis patients at Kasr Al-Ainy Hospital by dietary habits and BMI
Dietary Habits | BMIa categories | p-value | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall, n = 76 | Underweight, n = 2 | Normal, n = 25 | Overweight, n = 21 | Obese, n = 28 | |||||||
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | ||
Meal number | |||||||||||
- One | 2 | 2.63 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 7.14 | 0.71 |
- Two | 34 | 44.74 | 1 | 50.0 | 12 | 48.0 | 8 | 38.1 | 13 | 46.43 | |
- Three or more | 40 | 52.63 | 1 | 50.0 | 13 | 52.0 | 13 | 61.9 | 13 | 46.43 | |
Main meal | |||||||||||
- Breakfast | 13 | 17.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 12.0 | 5 | 23.8 | 5 | 17.9 | 0.06 |
- Lunch | 48 | 63.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 16 | 64.0 | 15 | 71.4 | 17 | 60.7 | |
- Dinner | 15 | 19.7 | 2 | 100.0 | 6 | 24.0 | 1 | 4.8 | 6 | 21.4 | |
Breakfast | |||||||||||
- Yes or sometimes | 54 | 71.1 | 2 | 100.0 | 21 | 84.0 | 15 | 71.4 | 16 | 57.1 | 0.139 |
- No or rarely | 22 | 28.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 16.0 | 6 | 28.6 | 12 | 42.9 | |
Fast food intake | |||||||||||
- Yes | 21 | 27.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 8 | 32.0 | 7 | 33.3 | 6 | 21.4 | 0.6 |
- No | 55 | 72.4 | 2 | 100.0 | 17 | 68.0 | 14 | 66.7 | 22 | 78.6 | |
Snacks | |||||||||||
- Fresh fruits and vegetables | 67 | 88.2 | 2 | 100.0 | 21 | 84.0 | 20 | 95.2 | 24 | 85.7 | 0.6 |
- Fresh juices | 31 | 40.8 | 2 | 100.0 | 11 | 44.0 | 12 | 57.1 | 6 | 21.4 | 0.02* |
- Nuts and seeds | 57 | 75.0 | 1 | 50.0 | 21 | 84.0 | 13 | 61.9 | 22 | 78.6 | 0.28 |
- Crackers | 55 | 72.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 19 | 76.0 | 15 | 71.4 | 21 | 75.0 | 0.14 |
- Cakes | 60 | 78.9 | 2 | 100.0 | 20 | 80.0 | 17 | 81.0 | 21 | 75.0 | 0.83 |
- Soft drinks | 49 | 64.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 19 | 76.0 | 14 | 66.7 | 16 | 57.1 | 0.12 |
- Sweets | 61 | 80.3 | 2 | 100.0 | 20 | 80.0 | 17 | 81.0 | 22 | 78.6 | 0.91 |
- Hot caffeinated drinks | 68 | 89.5 | 2 | 100.0 | 20 | 80.0 | 20 | 95.2 | 26 | 92.9 | 0.3 |
Cooking methods | |||||||||||
Cooking meatsb | |||||||||||
- Boiled | 47 | 61.8 | 2 | 100.0 | 14 | 56.0 | 11 | 52.4 | 20 | 71.4 | 0.32 |
- Grilled | 44 | 57.9 | 1 | 50.0 | 15 | 60.0 | 11 | 52.4 | 17 | 60.7 | 0.93 |
- Fried | 61 | 80.3 | 2 | 100.0 | 19 | 76.0 | 16 | 67.2 | 24 | 85.7 | 0.68 |
Cooking vegetablesb | |||||||||||
- Cooked with fat | 56 | 73.7 | 1 | 50.0 | 22 | 88.0 | 14 | 66.7 | 19 | 67.9 | 0.24 |
- Boiled | 30 | 39.5 | 1 | 50.0 | 9 | 36.0 | 7 | 33.3 | 13 | 46.4 | 0.77 |
Cooking fat typeb | |||||||||||
- Butter | 60 | 78.9 | 2 | 100.0 | 21 | 84.0 | 20 | 95.2 | 17 | 60.7 | 0.02* |
- Hydrogenated oil | 37 | 48.7 | 1 | 50.0 | 13 | 52.0 | 7 | 33.3 | 16 | 57.1 | 0.41 |
- Oil | 71 | 93.4 | 2 | 100.0 | 23 | 92.0 | 19 | 90.5 | 27 | 96.4 | 0.42 |