Lifestyle and dietary habits among adults in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: a cross-sectional study of behavioral associations
- 1Faculty of Medicine, Koya University, Koya, Kurdistan Region Iraq
Abstract
Background: Unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors are major modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. Evidence on multidimensional lifestyle patterns in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq remains limited. This study aimed to assess lifestyle and dietary habits among adults and identify factors associated with overall lifestyle level.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 23 September and 20 October 2024 among 327 adults residing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq using non-probability convenience online sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, expert-reviewed online questionnaire. Overall lifestyle level was assessed using a 12-item composite score and descriptively categorized using modified Bloom's cut-off criteria. Associations were examined using chi-square or appropriate exact tests. Lifestyle categories were subsequently dichotomized as unhealthy versus moderate/healthy for multivariable binary logistic regression.
Results: Overall, 65.4% of participants were classified as having an unhealthy lifestyle, 20.5% as having a moderate lifestyle, and 14.1% as having a healthy lifestyle. After adjustment, age and self-reported health status were independently associated with lifestyle level. Compared with participants aged 19–24 years, those aged 25–30 years had higher odds of having a moderate or healthy lifestyle (AOR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.67–8.37, p = 0.001), as did participants aged ≥ 31 years (AOR = 7.54, 95% CI: 2.83–20.10, p < 0.001). Participants reporting good health also had higher odds of having a moderate or healthy lifestyle compared with those reporting poor or fair health (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.40–5.46, p = 0.003). Gender, body mass index, marital status, occupation, economic status, and chronic disease status were not independently associated with lifestyle level. Findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the non-probability sampling approach and limited representation of some subgroups.
Conclusion: Unhealthy lifestyle patterns were common within this predominantly young, non-population-based sample. Age and self-reported health status were independently associated with overall lifestyle level. The findings highlight the importance of culturally appropriate health promotion strategies targeting key lifestyle concerns, particularly among younger adults. Further population-based studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess lifestyle patterns across the wider population of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7.
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BibTeX
@article{mahmood2026lifestyle,
title = {{Lifestyle and dietary habits among adults in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: a cross-sectional study of behavioral associations}},
author = {Kochr Ali Mahmood},
journal = {BMC Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lifestyle and dietary habits among adults in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: a cross-sectional study of behavioral associations
AU - Kochr Ali Mahmood
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/22
JO - BMC Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7
AB - Background: Unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors are major modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. Evidence on multidimensional lifestyle patterns in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq remains limited. This study aimed to assess lifestyle and dietary habits among adults and identify factors associated with overall lifestyle level. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 23 September and 20 October 2024 among 327 adults residing in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq using non-probability convenience online sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, expert-reviewed online questionnaire. Overall lifestyle level was assessed using a 12-item composite score and descriptively categorized using modified Bloom's cut-off criteria. Associations were examined using chi-square or appropriate exact tests. Lifestyle categories were subsequently dichotomized as unhealthy versus moderate/healthy for multivariable binary logistic regression. Results: Overall, 65.4% of participants were classified as having an unhealthy lifestyle, 20.5% as having a moderate lifestyle, and 14.1% as having a healthy lifestyle. After adjustment, age and self-reported health status were independently associated with lifestyle level. Compared with participants aged 19–24 years, those aged 25–30 years had higher odds of having a moderate or healthy lifestyle (AOR = 3.74, 95% CI: 1.67–8.37, p = 0.001), as did participants aged ≥ 31 years (AOR = 7.54, 95% CI: 2.83–20.10, p < 0.001). Participants reporting good health also had higher odds of having a moderate or healthy lifestyle compared with those reporting poor or fair health (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.40–5.46, p = 0.003). Gender, body mass index, marital status, occupation, economic status, and chronic disease status were not independently associated with lifestyle level. Findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the non-probability sampling approach and limited representation of some subgroups. Conclusion: Unhealthy lifestyle patterns were common within this predominantly young, non-population-based sample. Age and self-reported health status were independently associated with overall lifestyle level. The findings highlight the importance of culturally appropriate health promotion strategies targeting key lifestyle concerns, particularly among younger adults. Further population-based studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess lifestyle patterns across the wider population of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28649-7.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -