Factores que influyen en el comportamiento alimentario y la ingesta dietética de los estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Riobamba, 2023

Abstract

University students are a particularly vulnerable population who are subject to new influences and responsibilities. A university is a place where they can frequently develop unhealthy eating behaviors, and this could affect their health status. The objective of this research was to identify the factors that influence the eating behavior of university students. This is a cross-sectional observational study, in which 200 students from three universities in the Ecuadorian Sierra region participated. A structured survey was applied to identify sociodemographic, sociocultural, socioeconomic factors and eating behavior. The information was analyzed with JAMOVI software. The Chi2 hypothesis test was used and a value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results show that the majority of the participants were between 21 and 24 years old; in addition, it was evident that university students between 21 and 24 years old consider that the lack of information is a factor that prevents them from having a better diet. There were no significant differences in eating behaviors between men and women, or with place of residence. Regarding sociocultural factors and eating behaviors, it was observed that the subjects with myths/taboos regarding chili pepper are the subjects who choose foods according to their flavor. They consume steamed, baked, or fried foods having preference for the unhealthy preparations. regarding socioeconomic factors and eating behaviors, it was highlighted that individuals with a food budget of less than U.S. 2.5 dollars choose foods according to their taste and whether they are pleasant to look at; in addition, they prefer to buy their food in convenience neighborhood stores and markets. It can be concluded that age, myths/taboos, daily budget, influence eating behaviors when choosing food, preparation methods and place of purchase.