Nutrient intake is one of the factors affect nutritional status. International students who live in other countries face different environment from their own country. The differences affects food habits, nutritional adequacy level, and nutritional status of international students. This study aimed to analyze the correlation of nutrition intake and nutritional status among international students in Surabaya. This cross-sectional study included 30 respondents. Food consumption was collected by Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. Nutritional status determined by body weight and height. Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation variables. The average energy intake of international students were 1,888 ± 379 kcal per day. The percentage of overweight international students were 20% and underweight were 16.7%. The results showed low correlation between energy (r=0.370) and protein (r=0.380) adequacy level with nutritional status, moderate correlation between fat adequacy level (r=0.410) and nutritional status, and no correlation between carbohydrate adequacy level (r=-) with nutritional status. The conclusion was lower macronutrient intake causes inadequacy energy level which causes one third of international students didn’t have normal nutritional status. Therefore, international students need to increase macronutrient intake by increasing meal-portion, choosing balanced food, and not skipping meal time.
Population transfers between countries occur a lot, especially because of education. There are many international students in various parts of the world, including in Surabaya, Indonesia. Environmental differences cause changes in the eating habits that affect the amount of macronutrients intake among international students. The aims of this research was to analyze the differences of macronutrients intake among international students before and while live in Surabaya. This study was a cross-sectional design with 30 samples. Data were collected by in-depth interviews, the Dietary History instruments and Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire through interview. Data were analized by t-test through the SPPS application. The results showed that there were differences in macronutrient intake of international students before and during their stay in Surabaya (p<0,005). There was a decrease in the average intake of energy, proteins, fat, and carbohydrates. It was due to inadequate access to food, often skipping meals, and can not accept the taste of Indonesian cuisine. Frequency and number of food portions of international students need to be increased. In addition, assistance from the universities are needed to increase access to food for international students.
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