Dietary behaviour in students with different body fat percent

Abstract

Eating habits with uniform food preferences and increased energy intake can contribute to increased gain of body fat. An adequate diet, body self-evaluation, and recognition of unhealthy nutrition patterns should promote appropriate corrective actions. The aim of the present study was to determine whether energy intake, food diversity and corrective modification of body mass differed among student groups with low, normal and high body fat percentage. The study involved 737 (158 male and 579 female) students of the Rīga Stradiņš University (age 18-49 years). Dietary behaviour was determined using self-administered questionnaire. Body fat percentage was determined with a Tanita MC-180 bioimpedance analyser. Fluid and food intake, as well as physical activity before the test was restricted. The results showed that 15% of students in the low, 38% in the normal and 62% in the high body fat percentage groups considered that they eat too much. In the low, normal and high body fat percentage groups of students, 27%, 37% and 42%, respectively, agreed that they do restrict food intake. There were no significant differences in normalised energy intake and food diversity indexes between these student groups. Students in the high body fat percentage group more frequently admitted eating to much, and their corrective behaviour was associated more with reduced amounts of eaten food rather than minimisation of energy intake and increased food diversity. In all fat percentage groups, female students more frequently admitted that they eat too much and more often tended to restrict food intake than male students.