ABSTRACT
Affordability is a key factor when considering the dietary
intake of individual, the study adopted a cross-sectional design to examine the
influence of food cost on diet choices among
undergraduates in Abia State University, Uturu. A multi-stage sampling
technique was used to get 124 respondents who participated in the study. A
well-structured and validated questionnaire was
used and data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and
Statistical Package for Socials Sciences (SPSS version 25). The
socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the study revealed that the
respondents were equally distributed by set (51.6% males and 48.4 female), age
range of 23-25 years (28.2%), Igbos (67.7%), Christians (89.5%), 400lvl
students (33.9%); 37.1%, 35.5%, 21.0%, 29.8% and 29.8% of the respondents were
sponsored by their parents, lived off-campus, had family size of 4, their
fathers’ and mother’s had secondary education respectively. The results on
dietary habits indicated that 29.0%, 37.1%, 47.6% of the respondents ate once, ate at home, skipped
meals respectively and 37.1%
skipped dinner respectively. 28.2%, 29.0%, 29.0%, indicated that they skipped
meals because they were busy, ate biscuits/chips and consumed carbonated drinks
respectively. 26.6%, 29.8%, 50.8%, 51.6%, 57.3% indicated frying as their most
preferred method of food preparation, price influenced their food habits,
advertisement influenced their food choices, ate two portions of fruits and
vegetables respectively. Results on the body mass index (BMI) revealed that
1.0% were underweight. 57.3% had normal weight. 40.3% were over-weight. 0.8% of
the respondents were obsessed, 42.3% of respondents were deemed “not at risk”
whereas 2.5% were classified as at increased risk. 36.9% of respondents fell
into the low-risk category. 29.0% of the respondents spent between N1,000-
N3,000, 54.8%, 55.6%, 48.4%
indicated
that there has been increase on amount they spent on food, increase in food cost influenced their dietary choices, when
food cost increases, they relied on confectionaries as an alternative to
meeting to their hunger quest respectively; 62.9%, 71.8%, 55.6% and 54.0% were
affirmative regarding to choice of foods due to their affordability, eating
smaller meals than felt needed due to lack of resources to purchase foods; went
to bed on an empty stomach due to financial constraints and they spent a whole
day and night without eating any food due to insufficient resources to purchase
foods. Lastly there was positive
association but not significant difference (P>0.05) between food costs
variables (income level, item price and purchase order) and dietary choices
(alternative cheaper foods, leaving on confectionaries and skipping meals). The
study concluded that to an extent that food costs influence dietary choices
with overwhelming influence on their health and academic performance. The study
recommended promotion of affordable
and nutritious food options, alongside educational campaigns on healthy eating,
could be essential in addressing these dietary challenges.
DIVINE, C (2025). The Influence Of Food Cost On Diet Choices Among Undergraduates In Abia State University, Uturu:-Ihuoma, Divine C. Mouau.afribary.org: Retrieved Jul 09, 2025, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-influence-of-food-cost-on-diet-choices-among-undergraduates-in-abia-state-university-uturu-ihuoma-divine-c-7-2
CHIEMELA, DIVINE. "The Influence Of Food Cost On Diet Choices Among Undergraduates In Abia State University, Uturu:-Ihuoma, Divine C" Mouau.afribary.org. Mouau.afribary.org, 08 Jul. 2025, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-influence-of-food-cost-on-diet-choices-among-undergraduates-in-abia-state-university-uturu-ihuoma-divine-c-7-2. Accessed 09 Jul. 2025.
CHIEMELA, DIVINE. "The Influence Of Food Cost On Diet Choices Among Undergraduates In Abia State University, Uturu:-Ihuoma, Divine C". Mouau.afribary.org, Mouau.afribary.org, 08 Jul. 2025. Web. 09 Jul. 2025. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-influence-of-food-cost-on-diet-choices-among-undergraduates-in-abia-state-university-uturu-ihuoma-divine-c-7-2 >.
CHIEMELA, DIVINE. "The Influence Of Food Cost On Diet Choices Among Undergraduates In Abia State University, Uturu:-Ihuoma, Divine C" Mouau.afribary.org (2025). Accessed 09 Jul. 2025. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/the-influence-of-food-cost-on-diet-choices-among-undergraduates-in-abia-state-university-uturu-ihuoma-divine-c-7-2