Eating habits of students - Basic cycle medical degree program. National University of Asunción. Year 2024
Keywords:
nutrition, college students, eating habits, obesity, healthAbstract
Introduction: Nutrition plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of individuals, especially during developmental stages such as adolescence and youth. The nutrition problem in Paraguay is alarming, as the country faces a growing prevalence of overweight and obesity. This study evaluates the eating habits of undergraduate students during their time at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asunción.
Methodology: Descriptive observational cross-sectional approach. A total of 274 students were surveyed about their eating patterns, access to facilities, and food choices.
Results: 58% (160) of the study population are first-year students; with regard to the type of food consumed, 35% consume fast food, 33% home-cooked meals, 15% fruits or vegetables, 15% baked goods, and 2% other foods; when asked if they had a place to eat, 48% answered YES and 52% answered NO; Regarding access to a refrigerator, 58.6% answered YES and 41.4% NO. Regarding access to a microwave, 82.1% answered YES and 17.9% NO. BMI assessment showed that 40% were overweight or obese.
Conclusions: The eating habits of basic cycle medical students are inadequate, as their main source of food is fast food, which is purchased in the vicinity of the fa culty due to the lack of adequate equipment and infrastructure for them to store their food.
References
1. Meléndez, J. A. B., Vega y León, S., Vázquez, C. C. R., Cervera, S. B., Hernández Nava, L. G., Rojo-Moreno, L., Vázquez Chávez E. A., Ernesto Murillo, J. M. Hábitos alimentarios, actividad física y estilos de vida en adolescentes escolarizados de la Ciudad de México y del Estado de Michoacán.
2. González G. Alta prevalencia de pacientes con obesidad representa un problema de salud pública en el Paraguay [Internet]. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la UNA. 2024 [citado el 7 de octubre del 2024].
3. Zayas Valdez VE, Miranda C, Scott C, Viveros C. Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Itapúa. Rev. Virtual Soc. Paraguaya Med. Interna [Internet]. 2014 [citado el 7 de octubre del 2024].
4. Rosselló MJ. La importancia de comer sano y saludable. PLAZA & JANES; 2011
5. Izquierdo Hernández A, Armenteros Borrell M, Lancés Cotilla L, Martín González I. Alimentación saludable. Rev. Cubana Enferm [Internet]. 2004 [citado el 20 de noviembre de 2024]
6. Block JP, Scribner RA, DeSalvo KB. Fast food, race/ethnicity, and income. Am J Prev Med [Internet]
7. Pitt E, Gallegos D, Comans T, Cameron C, Thornton L. Exploring the influence of local food environments on food behaviors: a systematic review of qualitative literature. Public Health Nutr [Internet]
8. Día Mundial de la Obesidad: 6 de 10 adultos paraguayos tiene exceso de peso [Internet]. Gov.py. 2015 [citado el 7 de octubre del 2024]. Disponible en: https://www.mspbs.gov.py/portal/29413/dia-mundial-de-la-obesidad-6-de-10-adultos-paraguayos-tiene-exceso-de-peso.html
9. García-Valdez, R. G., González-Cicero, E. G., & M. y Vallado-Tamayo Giselle A., R.-C. K. (2018, septiembre 30). Importancia de los comedores industriales y su relación con el clima laboral en empresas privadas de mérida, yucatán. Revista del centro de graduados e investigación. Instituto tecnológico de mérida. Vol. 33 [Internet]
10. Peña Maldonado AA, Guerra Cárdenas JE, Sánchez Márquez W, Torres Violante FR. Gestión de programas de atención a la salud: Sobrepeso y obesidad en estudiantes universitarios de medicina en México. Rev. Venez Gerenc [Internet]. 2024 [citado el 26 de noviembre de 2024]
11. Rodríguez-Muñoz PM, Fuster-RuizdeApodaca MJ, Martínez-González MÁ, Martínez JA. Hábitos alimentarios y estilo de vida de los universitarios españoles: una revisión sistemática. Nutr Hosp. 2021;38(2):345–54.
12. Yahia N, Achkar A, Abdallah A, Rizk S. Eating habits and obesity among Lebanese university students. Nutr J. 2008;7:32.
13. Deliens T, Clarys P, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Deforche B. Determinants of eating behaviour in university students: a qualitative study using focus group discussions. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:53.
14. Story M, Kaphingst KM, Robinson-O'Brien R, Glanz K. Creating healthy food and eating environments: policy and environmental approaches. Annu Rev Public Health. 2008;29:253–72.
15. García-Fernández J, Rico-Sapena N, Quiles-Izquierdo J. Influencia del comedor universitario en los hábitos alimentarios de los estudiantes. Nutr Hosp. 2014;29(6):1395–1400.
16. Deliens T, Clarys P, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Deforche B. Changes in weight and body composition during the first semester at university: a prospective explanatory study. Appetite. 2013;65:111–6.
17. Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Aprenda como conservar los alimentos para evitar intoxicaciones. Asunción: MSPBS; 2025. Disponible en sitio web del MSPBS.
18. Fernández F, González Céspedes L. Calidad de la dieta y estado nutricional de un grupo de estudiantes de una Universidad Pública de Paraguay. Rev Salud Pública Paraguay. 2024;13(3):36–43.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julia D. N. Monreale Cantero, Augusto A. Mora Ruiz Díaz, Carlos F. Morel Escobar, Samuel Waldemar Moreno Martinez, Lucia Ivonne Moreno Ojeda, Ayelen Müller Maldonado, Alejandro Antonio Negrete Hernandez, Magali Mariantonella Noguera Gonzalez, Victoria Montserrat Ocampo Rojas, Luciano Gabriel Oettinger Piersanti, Pamela Lujan Olivera Ayala, Estrella Verónica Ordóñez Bruch, Lizbeth Paola Ortiz Acosta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
