Background: The leading causes of death and disability worldwide are chronic diseases. The efforts to encourage people toward the realization about the role of genetics in transmitting chronic diseases might contribute to reduce the chance of contracting these diseases, such as enhancing lifestyles. Therefore, this study aimed to measure Hail populationsÂ’ knowledge about genetic influence and lifestyle modification on chronic diseases.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire in Hail region of Saudi Arabia.
Results: Out of the total 516 participants, more than 85% had a high level of health status, and 67.2% reported that health behaviors would develop conditions such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Almost 63.2% had a family history of these diseases. However, 59.1% did not know if they had a chance to have such diseases. Furthermore, 49.2% reported that they were at risk, if their family had such chronic diseases,
while 76.9% reported that lifestyle modifications would decrease the risk of developing chronic illness. More than half of the participants agreed that all lifestyle risk factors contributed equally toward the increased risk of chronic illness.
Conclusions: The population of Hail had a good health status, adequate knowledge, and awareness about the genetic effects and lifestyle modification on chronic diseases. They had a very positive attitude toward lifestyle modification.
Key words: Chronic diseases, lifestyle modification, genetic influence, eating behavior
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