Analysis of Eating Habits According to Socio-Demographic Characteristics of College Students

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze eating habits according to socio-demographic characteristics of college students. The study used a convenience sample of 212 students attending Florida A and M University (FAMU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The three nominal independent variables used in the survey to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of the students were gender, residential status and academic classification. Nearly 72 % of the students (n = 152) were females and 28 % were males (n = 60); 72 % lived off campus in their own houses or apartments (n = 153) and 28 % lived on campus in FAMU dormitories and housing units (n = 59). The academic classification of these 212 students included 65 freshmen (31%), 60 sophomores (28%), 40 juniors (19%), 32 seniors (15%) and 15 graduates (7%). More than half of the students (58%) were between 18 and 20 years old; 36 % were between 21 and 24 years old and only 6 % were 25 years and older. The results of this study showed significant differences in eating habits based on gender, residential status and academic classification. The data also indicated that students have misconceptions regarding the impact of proper diet and good eating habits on good health. Therefore there is a real need in improving the student’s knowledge about nutrition. This need is especially important since many diseases could be delayed or prevented by just changing or improving the nutritional habits. This preliminary study conclude