A study of association among body composition and khat chewing among the employees of University of Science and technology, Sana’a, Yemen

Abstract

Catha edulis (khat) is a plant grown commonly in the Republic of Yemen. The leaves of small khat are chewed by the people for its stimulant action. Association between body composition and khat chewing is little known. The study recruited 300 individuals aged 19–70 years from University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen. Demographic, body composition, and physical activity data were collected using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Participants who chewed khat numbered 170 (56.7%) and non-chewers numbered 130 (43.3%). The results indicated that khat chewers had higher muscle mass, lower body fat percentages, higher visceral fat levels, larger waist circumferences, and slightly higher BMI values compared with non-chewers. Male khat chewers had higher muscle mass, higher visceral fat levels, and higher waist circumference values compared with females. There was no significant association between khat chewing status and excess body fat.