Nutritional status and related factors among college students with different speciality

ObjectiveTo understand nutritional status of college students and to analyze differences in nutrition knowledge,attitude and behavior between medical students and students with other specialities.MethodsWith cluster random sampling,1 592 college students were selected for a questionnaire survey.The body mass index was used to evaluate the nutritional status of the students.Chi-squaretest was adoptedin the analysis.ResultsThe correct rates of nutriton knowledge and dietsellection were 95.4% and 74.8% for medical students,and 83.2% and 67.3% for students of other specialities with a statistical significance(P=0.000,0.001).However,there was no significant difference in nutrition status and attitude.College students had little knowledge about nutrition.Multivariate logistic regression showed that risk factors related to nutritional status included being choosy about onecs food and snacking in the evening.The protective factors were mothercs education level and having breakfast every day.ConclusionThe nutrition status is not good and education on nutritional knowledge should be promoted among college students.