The COVID-19 pandemic represents a major public health, economic, political, and scientific concern in most countries around the globe where COVID-19 cases and deaths have been confirmed. This study assessed the attitudes, anxiety, and behavioral practices of university students in Jordan regarding COVID-19 during the early period of the infection (March 19–21, 2020) using a validated, self-administered survey questionnaire. Positive attitudes or low-risk practices were given 1 point, whereas negative attitudes or high-risk practices were scored 0. Percentages of the total score were used for categorizing data into negative attitudes or high-risk practices (≤ 60%), moderate attitudes or moderate-risk practices (60.01–80%), and positive attitudes or low-risk practices (> 80%). Generally, the university students displayed positive attitudes and low-risk practices toward preventing COVID-19, with an average score of 81.1% and 84.3%, respectively. Approximately two-thirds (69.1%) of the students showed a positive attitude toward COVID-19 seriousness, concern of contracting the virus, and the appropriate prevention measures, and low-risk practices (67.6%) toward preventing COVID-19 including implementation of social distancing and good hygiene. Female, older, medical, or postgraduate students practiced significantly more (P ≤ 0.05) appropriate hygiene and social distancing behaviors toward COVID-19 than their counterparts of each group. More than two-thirds (69.2%) of the students were anxious that they might become infected with COVID-19. These results are important for health authorities to develop appropriate educational programs and protective health measures including good respiratory etiquette and handwashing practices, to enhance safer lifestyles and prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Dietary supplements (DSs) intake has been increasing worldwide despite no consensus evidence for the efficacy and safety of disease prevention, control, or treatment in nutrient-replete populations. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DSs use, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and associated factors among university students in Jordan. A national cross-sectional study was carried over across universities in Jordan. Participants completed a valid and reliable online questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.802 and correlation coefficients between 0.72 and 0.26). Univariate analyses were used to determine the relationship between variables. Multivariable regression was carried out to identify significant factors contributing DSs usage. A total of 448 university students completed the study (73.7% females). More than half of the students used DSs (60.9%), with single-nutrient ingredient supplements being the most commonly used type. The primary motivators were maintaining health and most students reported no side effects associated with consumption. The results revealed poor knowledge, a negative attitude towards DSs usage among all participants, even non-users, and high-risk practices among the DSs users. Normal weight and overweight individuals were more likely to use DSs (OR:2.88, 95%CI:1.61-5.16, OR:1.95, 95%CI:1.01-3.79, respectively). Low and medium-family income categories were more likely to use DSs than those in the high-income category (OR: 0.04, 95%CI: 0.02-0.07, OR: 0.06, 95CI:0.03-0.11, respectively). Undergraduate students were more likely to use DSs than postgraduate students (OR:5.56, 95%CI:3.19-9.69). In this study, a high prevalence of DSs use was highlighted. The results suggest that nutrition education is required to improve awareness of DSs and to promote safe practices.

• A cross-sectional study assesses the level of the job satisfaction among dieticians in Jordan. • This study aims to find the factors that influence job satisfaction status among dieticians in Jordan. • Assessments are based on using reliable and valid international job satisfaction survey (JSS). • The association between the job satisfaction and intend to stay was assessed too. • The survey is very generic and can be easily adapted in international future studies.

Background: Nutrition knowledge (NK) is a modifiable determinant of diet intake and can positively influence athletic performance. This study aimed to (1) adapt and translate a validated general and sports NK questionnaire into Arabic (2) assess the NK of Jordanian sportspeople, and (3) evaluate the relationship between NK and various sociodemographic factors. Methods: The Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (ANSKQ) was translated into Arabic using forward-backward translation and underwent pilot testing and psychometric validation (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, inter-rater agreement) using a convenience sample of 30 individuals. Following ANSKQ validation, athletes a from 50 sport institutes in Jordan were invited (via email) to complete the Arabic ANSKQ online. Differences in NK based on demographics were analysed using t-test or ANOVA for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. The ability of demographic factors to predict NK score-category (poor/good/average/excellent) was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The Arabic ANSKQ had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.92), test-retest reliability (Pearson r = 0.926) and inter-rater agreement (Cohen’s k statistic = 0.89). A total of 3636 eligible participants completed the Arabic ANSKQ. Participants were mostly athletes (91.4%), female (68.0%), had normal BMI (50.6%), and played high-intensity sports (59.6%). 88.3% of participants had poor NK (<50%). There were statistically significant differences in NK score based on participant role (athlete vs coach), age, gender, BMI, nationality, smoking, years playing sport, sport frequency, sport intensity, and nutrition training. Multivariate modelling showed participant role, BMI, education level, sport frequency and nutrition training were predictors of NK category. Conclusions: In conclusion, Jordanian sportspeople have poor NK and may benefit from increased nutrition training.

Background: Over two billion Muslims across the world practice Ramadan fasting, which involves refraining from food and drink from dawn to sunset. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), body composition, physical activity, and sleep quality among Jordanian university students. Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental, pre–post-intervention design. It was conducted between March and April 2024 and included 77 students from the University of Petra (UOP) in Amman, Jordan. Bivariate analysis was performed to compare the variables pre–post Ramadan fasting. A linear mixed-effects model assessed the association between Ramadan fasting and each outcome. Results: The results indicated that Ramadan fasting was not associated with a change in the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21 score). Ramadan fasting led to a decrease in sleep quality, indicated by an increase in the PSQI score (β = 0.92; p-value = 0.0419). Component analysis revealed statistically significant changes in subjective sleep quality (p-value = 0.0009), sleep duration (p-value < 0.0001), and sleep disturbances (p-value = 0.025). Body composition: Ramadan fasting was significantly associated with a decrease in the number of fat components, such as weight (β = −1.20; p-value = 0.0116), body mass index (β = −0.55), waist circumference (β = −1.79; p-value = 0.0029), fat mass index (β = −0.43; p-value = 0.0279), visceral fat area (β = −6.86; p-value = 0.0383), and body adiposity index (β = −0.45; p-value = 0.0068) (all p-value < 0.05). No substantial alterations to the body’s water-related properties were noted. Physical Activity: A marked decrease was noted in moderate- to high-intensity activity levels (p-value < 0.0001). Conclusion: In conclusion, Ramadan fasting can positively affect body composition through a reduction in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and other parameters of fat, emphasizing its potential role in body composition improvement. However, fasting was also accompanied by poorer sleep quality, including, specifically, poorer subjective sleep quality and sleep duration and greater disturbance. The associated impairments to sleep revealed in these findings demand strategies to mitigate sleep impairments, alongside, where possible, potential beneficial effects of fasting on body composition.