Lifestyle behaviors among clients of diet centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: exploring physical activity and sleep quality beyond dietary programs

Background Diet centers that offer packaged, tailor-made dietary programs have emerged in the market in Saudi Arabia. However, it has not been examined to what degree enrolling in such diets is associated with adequate physical activity and sleep quality. Objective To explore if clients following diet programs by Diet centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, engage in a good lifestyle by performing physical activity and sleeping well, and follow the diet plan as a routine. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out with 200 adults (19–45 years) enrolled in 18 diet centers. Participants were divided into groups of low-calorie (LC), Mediterranean (MD), high-protein (HP), low-calorie ketogenic (LCK), and control groups. Structured interviews, as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and three-day 24-h dietary recalls, were used to gather data. Statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS. Results There were statistical differences among the dietary groups in energy intake, macronutrient composition, sleep quality, and physical activity ( p < 0.001). The MD group showed the best sleep quality with 95% good sleep and a low median PSQI score of 3, with the LCK group reporting the worst sleep performance and the highest short sleep duration (10% reported a good sleep and a median PSQI of 8). Sleep duration was normal for 92.5% of the MD group vs. 27.5% of the LCK group. A significant association was obtained between physical activity and sleep, with 50.7% of moderately active participants reporting good sleep quality vs. 20.4% of inactive participants ( p = 0.001). Furthermore, 42.5% of the LCK group were inactive, compared to 22.5% of the MD and 5% of the HP group ( p < 0.001). Conclusion In this sample of diet center clients, adherence to dietary plans was high, but engagement in complementary lifestyle behaviors varied significantly by diet type. Incorporation of structured physical activity and sleep health education in diet center programs may be associated with better lifestyle change and positive health outcomes.