Original Article

Nutritional habits of students living in two female dormitories in Ankara

  • Mahir Güleç
  • Nurcan Yabancı
  • Ercan Göçgeldi
  • Bilal Bakır

Received Date: 03.01.2008 Accepted Date: 09.05.2008 Gulhane Med J 2008;50(2):102-109

Nutritional habits of university students are closely related to many chronic diseases that may develop at further ages. This study was conducted to determine nutritional habits of female university students living at two dormitories from two different categories. Data were collected by performing a questionnaire to 300 female students who were selected by simple randomized sampling among students living at GATA and Mehmet Akif dormitories. Students living at GATA and Mehmet Akif dormitories had body mass index values of 20.3±1.7 and 20.8±2.3 kg/m2, respectively. Obesity prevalence was 0.7% and 5.3% in students living at GATA and Mehmet Akif dormitories, respectively. Of the students, 86.3% and 78.0% stated no alcohol use and no smoking, respectively. Skipping breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day and consuming fast food were common among students, and 27.3% of the students were not ever making sports. Healthy nutritional conditions should be presented to all university students, adequate and balanced meals should be offered at lower costs, periodic training on nutrition should be provided, and proper areas should be arranged for making sports.

Keywords: Nutrition, nutritional habits, university students, dormitory