Mena residents claim 'healthy' eating habits

Most professionals only eat out ‘very rarely’ and enjoy occasional exercise

A recent poll examining the health and eating habits of professionals in the Middle East, conducted by Bayt.com, has revealed that healthy behaviour amongst professionals may be higher than perceived.

Only 31.7 per cent of respondents stated that they consider their eating habits to be unhealthy and most respondents claimed to exercise  at least on an occasional basis.

Most professionals in the Mena region eat two (41.3 per cent) or three (39.8 per cent) meals a day, and the majority - just over a quarter or those surveyed at 28.2 per cent - consume no coffee on a daily basis. One to two cups of coffee is the most commonly consumed amount (according to 43.6 per cent; 20.9 per cent consume one cup daily, 22.7 per cent two cups), though 4.5 per cent claim to drink more than five cups every day.

“There is a common misconception that the life of a professional is sedentary and unhealthy, however our poll demonstrates that the vast majority of people in the Mena region are aware of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle and claim to adhere to one,” said Suhail Masri, Vice President of Product, Bayt.com.

In terms of eating habits, 50.8 per cent of respondents claim that they eat a moderate amount of carbohydrates every day, while the majority (47.8 per cent) state that they ‘occasionally’ eat meat. In terms of other food groups, 46.3 per cent eat a daily moderate amount of vegetables, 47.2 per cent ‘occasionally’ eat fruit, and 37.1 per cent eat a daily moderate amount of dairy products.

When it comes to eating out, 31.8 per cent say that they do so ‘very rarely’, while at the other end of the scale, 24.6 per cent dine out on a daily basis. Mealtimes are a family affair for a cumulative 84.6 per cent of respondents (36.3 per cent state that every meal is family time; 48.3 per cent claim ‘some meals’ to be). Roughly half of the offices covered in the poll have canteen or cafeteria facilities, with only 45 per cent without.

A small 17.6 per cent of respondents claim to do no exercise, with the rest claiming to exercise frequently (37.6 per cent) or occasionally (44.8 per cent). The most popular location to work out is at home (including within the respondent’s building or compound) according to 30.5 per cent; this is followed by outdoors (28.8 per cent) and at a commercial gym (20.6 per cent).

Walking is by far the most common exercise activity, undertaken by 49 per cent. Running and swimming come a close second and third (8.6 per cent and 8.5 per cent respectively), followed by a combination of sports.

Data for the Bayt.com’s “Mena Professionals Health and Eating Habits” poll was collected online from January 30 – February 27, with 13,713 respondents covering more than 12 countries in the Mena region.
 

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