ABSTRACT
Food insecurity is a growing
public health issue and a barrier to students achieving adequate nutrition.
This study assesses food insecurity, physical activity and anthropometric
status among undergraduate students in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Umudike. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to
select a total of 440 undergraduate students. Data on socio demographic
characteristics of the students, food security status, coping strategy and physical
activity of the students were collected
using structured and validated questionnaire, anthropometric measurement was
carried out using standard procedure. The IBM SPSS version 25.0 computer
programme was used to analyze the data. Data obtained were described using
frequency and percentage. Regression was used to analyze the relationship between
food insecurity, coping strategy and anthropometric status of the respondents. Significant relationship was judged at p ≤
0.05. Result revealed that majority (48.5%) of the participants in this
study were less than 23-26 years old and majority (87.0%) were single. More
than half (61.1%) of them were female who lived on campus (61.1%). The
prevalence of food insecurity among the respondents was high (78.3%); with
16.9% being moderately food insecure and 1.1% of them being mildly food
insecure. Their coping strategy showed that the respondents had a varied coping
strategy ranging from high (95.4%), medium (3.7%), low (0.9%). Majority (86.5%)
of the respondents prepared their own meals. While inside the campus, some
(12.4%) of the respondents get their foods in restaurants and more than half
(51.5%) of the respondents had changed
their eating habit since they started attending University. Their physical
activity level showed that more (87.0%) of them had a low physical activity
level, very few (4.6%) were moderately physically active while 8.5% had high
physical activity level. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among
the respondents were 31.0% and 11.0% respectively. However, 56.8% of the
respondents were normal, while 8.5% were obese. The waist circumference and
waist hip ratio of the respondents shows that 55.5% were safe, while 44.2% were
at risk. There is a significant relationship (P Judged at 0.05) existed between
food insecurity, coping strategy and anthropometric status. Respondents who
were mildly/moderately food insecure are 51% less likely to be overweight/obese
than their other counterpart. While
those who were mildly/moderately food insecure are 91% less likely to be
Normal. To achieve food security, all four components such as food
availability, accessibility, utilization and stability must be present.
Therefore, both governmental and non-governmental organizations working in
nutrition sensitive and nutrition specific program should perform their tasks
in averting unacceptably high prevalence of food insecurity in households and
among University students.
ESTHER, M (2024). Food Insecurity, Physical Activity And Anthropometric Status Among Undergraduate Students In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike:- Thomas, Esther M. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Dec 25, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-insecurity-physical-activity-and-anthropometric-status-among-undergraduate-students-in-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-thomas-esther-m-7-2
MONDAY, ESTHER. "Food Insecurity, Physical Activity And Anthropometric Status Among Undergraduate Students In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike:- Thomas, Esther M" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 04 Sep. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-insecurity-physical-activity-and-anthropometric-status-among-undergraduate-students-in-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-thomas-esther-m-7-2. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
MONDAY, ESTHER. "Food Insecurity, Physical Activity And Anthropometric Status Among Undergraduate Students In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike:- Thomas, Esther M". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 04 Sep. 2024. Web. 25 Dec. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-insecurity-physical-activity-and-anthropometric-status-among-undergraduate-students-in-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-thomas-esther-m-7-2 >.
MONDAY, ESTHER. "Food Insecurity, Physical Activity And Anthropometric Status Among Undergraduate Students In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike:- Thomas, Esther M" Mouau.afribary.org (2024). Accessed 25 Dec. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/food-insecurity-physical-activity-and-anthropometric-status-among-undergraduate-students-in-michael-okpara-university-of-agriculture-umudike-thomas-esther-m-7-2