Dietary Iron Intake and Physical Activity as Determinants of Fatigue among Pakistani Women

Abstract

Background: Fatigue is a widespread but understudied public health issue of women of reproductive age, especially in developing countries, where nutritional deficiencies and lifestyle factors go hand in hand.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations among dietary iron intake, physical activity, and fatigue level among Pakistani women.

Methodology: This study employed a cross-sectional quantitative design with a sample of 250 women aged 18-45 years living in urban and rural communities in selected regions of Pakistan. Data were gathered at the household, university, workplace, and community centers using a multistage convenience sampling approach and quota sampling by age. Dietary iron intake was evaluated using two non-consecutive 24-hr dietary recalls and calculated in mg/day using the Food Composition (FO) Table for Pakistan. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), measured in MET-min/week. Fatigue levels were assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). Data were analyzed using SPSS v.26, with descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression tests after testing assumptions.

Findings: The results revealed a significant moderate negative correlation between dietary iron intake and fatigue (r = -0.309, p < .001), indicating that lower dietary iron intake is associated with greater fatigue. Multiple regression analysis showed that dietary iron intake (b = -0.221, p < .001) and BMI (b = 0.144, p = .020) were significant predictors of fatigue, but physical activity was not statistically significant (p = .415). The model accounted for 7.7% of the variance of fatigue scores.

Conclusion: The study concludes that low dietary iron intake is a major determinant of fatigue among Pakistani women, and there is a need for community-based nutritional interventions and public health strategies focused on iron to improve the health and functional status of the women’s population.