Eating Habits of College Students in Relation to Obesity

K.L.L. Pineda, C. Gonzalez-Suarez, R.V. Espino, C.J. Escuadra, S.A. Balid-Attwell, K. Devora, D. Mendoza

May 2020 DOI 10.35460/2546-1621.2019-0018     Access   

Abstract

Objective: This paper aims to determine the causal relationship of eating habits, smoking, alcohol drinking and sleeping in overweight and obese college students.

Participants: There were 850 female students with age range from 15 to 39 and 551 male students with age range from 15 to 25 years old.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire on eating habits was adapted from a previously published study by Ruka Sakamaki, 2005. The height and weight were calculated for body mass index. Waist circumference was also measured. Simple logistic regression and multiple regression were utilized to analyze the collected data.

Results: There were significantly more males who were overweight and obese when compared with females. Multivariate analysis showed that eating breakfast and vegetables and not having frequent snacks are protective factors for being overweight and obese in both genders.

Conclusion: The study presented the importance of having breakfast, eating vegetables and taking less snacks for the prevention of excess weight and obesity among college students.

Keywords: eating habit, obesity, overweight, college students

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