Evaluation of dietary patterns of nutrition undergraduates

Abstract

Objective: In an era in which chronic non-communicable diseases predominate, promoting healthy lifestyles and lifestyle-modifying therapies dominate the language of health professionals. However, epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight remain alarming for young people. This is also true for shocking eating habits were fast-food dominates the choices of the younger [1]. Knowing that it will be the current young students of health courses who will work in this hostile environment, where obesity and associated comorbidities prevail [2,3], our objective was to evaluate the nutritional intake of nutrition students as literature seems to point to some level of disordered eating amongst Nutrition Students.

Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional study enrolling students from the Nutrition Undergraduation of a Private University, developed in the context of two disciplines: Evaluation of Food intake, and Introduction to Research Methods. Students were invited to participated by personal contact. Food intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), developed to estimate dietary intake across Europe. This FFQ comprises seven options to report food consumption frequency: 2+ per day, once per day, 5–6 per week, 2–4 per week, once per week, 1–3 times per week, and rarely or never. Analysis of food groups in terms of frequency of intake was performed. Study performed according to Helsinki Declaration.

Results: From a total of 86 students, 62 agreed to participated in the study (age range 20-43 years, 53 females). It was observed that in terms of frequency of the main food groups, this sample is accomplishing some of the objectives of the Portuguese Food Wheel as evidenced in Figure 1. Surprisingly, we found higher intakes of whole grains than those observed for the general population, as well as lower intake report of fast food, alcoholic drinks, chocolate and soft drinks. However, frequency intakes reported for fish and legumes are worrisome. Also, there is a considerable percentage of students who reported to rarely eat carbohydrate-rich and protein-rich foods. 27,4% of students are using supplements.

Figure 1. Frequency of intake of principal food groups.

Conclusion: We observed that nutrition undergraduates reported high intakes of some healthy foods, particularly whole grains, vegetables and fruits and low intake of fast-foods and softs drinks. These results may be explained by intrinsic knowledge on food and nutrition provided by the Undergraduation, greater awareness of the impact of nutrition on health, bias of the methodology by responding to what is desirable, or a combination of all these possibilities. However, intakes of legumes and fish are lower than desired. These results raise a pertinent question: are nutrition undergraduates eating healthier than the general population or do they respond to some items according to what they believe to be expected of them?