Eating Habits and Nutritional Status of Female Students of a Medical College of Lahore

Abstract

Eating habits have strong relationship with nutritional status of any person. Modification of these habits in the adolescent period can prevent malnutrition resulting in prevention of many non-communicable diseases. Additionally, with best eating habits female doctors can be a role model for their patients.Objectives: This study was designed to access the dietary habits, nutritional status and their association in young adolescent female medical students.Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in Medical College of Lahore. A total of 114 female students from 1st year and 2nd year were selected. Their socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits and nutritional status were assessed through a questionnaire. Hemoglobin levels were measured by Sysmex while mid upper arm circumference and (MUAC) and body mass index (BMI) were measured with the help of measuring tape and weighing machine, respectively. Results: Mean age of the students was 19.5 ± 2.1. All the participants were unmarried, 108 (94.7%) liked traditional food, and 84 (73.3%) had a habit of daily breakfast intake. Most of the students (n=73, 64%) were consuming fast/junk food while 81(71.1%) of the students used to take meat and meat products three times a week. A total of 42 respondents (36.8%) were underweight while 41 (36%) were anemic. Positive association was found between eating habits and hemoglobin levels (p = 0.001). Relationship between regular intake of breakfast with BMI and MUAC was also positive (p = 0.003 and 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: It is concluded that eating habits affect the nutritional status of adolescent females, while skipping breakfast is associated with anemia.

Gender Differences Related to Lifestyle Behaviour of University Students

“…Foreign authors have pointed out that approximately 70% of students reported having three meals per day (Akhtar et al, 2018), while Lithuanian authors claim that about half of students had 3-4 meals per day (Samsonienė & Zimnicka, 2013). Our results show that our data slightly differed from the other studies.…”

“…Authors of studies have presented different results about daily breakfast consumption. Some of them state that approximately 85.5% of students have daily breakfast, while according to the othersapproximately -70% (Akhtar et al, 2018;Karmakar, Jahan, Banik, Das, & Rahman, 2016;Musaiger, Al-Khalifa, & Al-Mannai, 2016). The results of our study show similar results.…”

“…Studies performed in different countries have discovered that students' dietary habits do not correspond to the recommendations of the World Health Organization on healthy diet (Akhtar Zareen, & Sarmad, 2018; Česnavičienė, Proškuvienė, & Motiejūnaitė, 2015). In their study, Sigmundova, Chmelik, Sigmund, Feltlova, and Frömel (2013) found that the lowest level of physical activity was reached by only two thirds of students.…”

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Background.A healthy lifestyle is the one of the most relevant subjects in a modern society comprising three factors -healthy diet, sufficient physical activity, and absence of harmful habits (Strukčinskienė et al, 2014). It has been pointed out that healthy lifestyle behavioural patterns contribute to the prevention of diabetes mellitus type II, cardiovascular, and oncological diseases (Javtokas et al, 2014).Studies performed in different countries have discovered that students' dietary habits do not correspond to the recommendations of the World Health Organization on healthy diet (Akhtar Zareen, & Sarmad, 2018; Česnavičienė, Proškuvienė, & Motiejūnaitė, 2015). In their study, Sigmundova, Chmelik, Sigmund, Feltlova, and Frömel (2013) found that the lowest level of physical activity was reached by only two thirds of students.

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The Relationship among Breakfast Habits, Calorie Intake and Nutritional Status of Sumedang Government’s Nursing Academy Students

“…Skipping breakfast is more common in men than in women. The results of this study are also in line with the research results of Akhtar, Zareen, & Sarmad [23], most female respondents at Lahore Pakistan Medical College, have a habit of eating breakfast every morning.…”