Malnutrition Analysis Based on Food Consumption and Other Factors in Under- Graduate Students of Chandigarh University

Abstract

Students' time at the university tends to be defined by a significant change in their dietary habits and lifestyle which exposes them to a number of risk factors associated with malnutrition, predisposition of various metabolic disorders, which are linked to nutrition. The aim of the study was to appraise the factors responsible for malnutrition in under-graduate students at Chandigarh University. Four hundred students of both the gender, aged between 18- 26 years old were screened for the study. Anthropometric parameters (including Height, weight and BMI) were taken into consideration for the assessment, besides each participant completed a dietary pattern and lifestyle questionnaire. The mean Height and weight of participants were 165.46 ± 11.28 and 64.77 ± 13.93 respectively, and BMI was 23.61 ± 4.16 kg/m^2. All the age categories were impacted, around 5% were underweight, 24.25% were overweight and 5.5% were obese. . Inadequate consumption of whole grains, protein rich food, green leafy vegetables and fruits was observed amidst the population of students pertinent to the eating patterns. The majority of the eaten carbohydrates came from cereal. In addition, 21% of them followed a diet lacking variety, and 2% of them experienced severe food insecurity. 6% of them had low nutritional intake. Except for carbs, which exceeded the suggested reference values and made up 62.69–13.84% of the students per diem energy uptake, the students' consumption of macronutrients was within the recommended reference ranges. Additionally, only 32.2% of respondents reported getting enough energy. A high incidence of overweight was linked to a diet that lacked variety. Both types of malnutrition are common among Chandigarh University students, and educating this young population about nutrition will be crucial to preventing consequences from malnutrition in later life.