Evaluation of Dietary Habits Among University Students in

Abstract: University students are the first post-childhood group who reach adulthood. A new period begins in the nutrition of students as they, following the start of education, have become more open to external factors and begin to make their own choices more explicitly. New forms that might emerge in dietary habits will be continued after university education. This study is considered helpful in the issues of encouraging adequate and balanced diet in the youth of higher education and enhancing, developing and extending dietary conditions at universities and dormitories. This study was conducted to determine dietary habits of university students aged 17-35. Data in the study was collected through questionnaire forms from a total of 310 students selected using simple random sampling. The amount of energy taken in through diet is 2075.9±965.85 kcal/day in male students and 1681.6±865.36 kcal/day in female students. It was found that majority of the students skipped a meal and 16.8 % of the students ate three main meals. Based on gender, the difference was found statistically significant between the intakes of vitamin B12, biotin, carbohydrate (g), vitamin B2 and zinc, pantothenic acid, folate (p<0.01), B1, iron and phosphor (p<0.05) as well as protein (g). It was discovered that the intake of vitamin K and phosphor by sample group exceeded 2/3 RDA. In general, it was seen that there were inequalities between genders in the use of varied food items and a deficiency was detected particularly in the intake of niacin, folate, calcium, iron (in females) and magnesium. To conclude, it was found tha