Dietary fat reducing behaviours of Arab women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

To identify dietary fat reducing behaviours of Emirati women with type 2 diabetes, based on 5 eating patterns (subscales) associated with a low fat diet. Responses from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 172 women were used to calculate means for the 5 subscales and summary scores. A low score indicated a desirable behaviour. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of the subscale and summary scores. Based on a 5-point scale, the mean scores (s.d.) of the subscales were as follows: substituting for lower fat milk products 3.70 (1.53), modifying meats 1.46 (0.70), avoiding frying 2.63 (0.88), replacing high-fat foods with lower fat foods 3.14 (1.09) and avoiding fat as flavouring or spread 2.62 (0.68). The values for the summary and mean scores were 2.64 (0.60) and 2.52 (0.55), respectively. Nutrition education programs should focus on dietary fat behaviours these women were less successful in changing.