ABSTRACT

This study investigated the nutrition knowledge on breakfast consumption pattern and prevalence of obesity of undergraduates in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire to collect qualitative and quantitative data among the respondents. The population ofthe study comprised of the undergraduates of the institution, a sample size of 419 which was determined using Taro Yamane formula. Statistical analysis was also done using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22.0. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of this study. The results revealed that (30.5%) were males while (69.5%) were females, (38.42%) were aged between 16-19 while (19.3%) were aged greater than 24 years old. 21.8% and 24.82% consumed processed high caloric foods daily and 4-6 times in a week respectively, 31.02% consumed food from carbohydrate/cereals group between 4-6 times/week, 31.02% consumed protein less than 1-3 times/week. 14.9% had excellent knowledge of nutrition. Good knowledge ofnutrition was higher in female study (35.4%) than males when it was compared statistically (p<0.05). 57.04%, 32.03% male and female respectively ate 4-6 times with a p-value of 0.028. 32.8% and 32.3% male and female respondents respectively skipped breakfast. The average BMI was 19.64±3.49 in the entire population. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in underweight between male and female when data were separated according to gender. The study concluded that in order to design and support healthy nutrition campaigns across campuses as well as critical to improve knowledge of dietary behaviors in the university-age population. The study recommended that School administrators should employ the sendees ofNutrition Educatorsto provide sound nutrition information for the students.