Dietary Practices Of Undergraduates 16-21 Years: A Case Study Of A University In Umudike, Abia State

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to evaluate the dietary practices, food preferences and nutrition knowledge of 102 male and female adolescent undergraduates aged 16-21 years in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU). The subjects involved in this study were randomly selected. The questionnaire was validated by lecturers at the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, MOUAU and used to obtain information on dietary practices and nutrition knowledge of the subjects. The Hedonic scale was used to determine food preferences of the subjects. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the information from the questionnaire. About 84% of the subjects skipped meals, (females 43.6%, and males 40.6%). More females (23.3%) than males (17.4%) skipped breakfast. Only about 19% took alcohol, (females 7.1%, males 12.2%), and only about 4% smoked cigarette, (females 2%, males 2%). 73% of the subjects ate snacks sometimes, (females 30%, males 43%). More females (16%) than males (6%) ate snacks daily. Eating frequency and meal skipping depended on such factors as money available, time constraint, appetite and body weight perception. The correlation between eating frequency and alcohol drinking was not significant, (p>0.05) and also that of eating frequency and effect of alcohol was not significant, (p>0.05). But the correlation between the reason for eating frequency and effect of alcohol was significant, (p<0.05). It was observed that although the adolescents knew the problems associated with high-fat foods, it did not change their preferences for these foods. If this problem is not addressed, then these adolescents and the future generation dependent on them will be prone to diverse nutrition problems. >>0.05). It was observed that although the adolescents knew the problems associated with high-fat foods, it did not change their preferences for these foods. If this problem is not addressed, then these adolescents and the future generation dependent on them will be prone to diverse nutrition problems.