Body weight, eating practices and nutritional knowledge amongst university nursing students, Eastern Cape, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Background: Health care workers need to be equipped to deal with the increasing obesity and obesity-related morbidity occurring in developing countries. Objectives: To assess weight status; eating practices and nutritional knowledge amongst nursing students at the University of Fort Hare; Eastern Cape. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted on 161 undergraduate (51 male and 110 female) students of the Department of Nursing Sciences at the University of Fort Hare. Body mass index; waist and hip circumferences and waist hip ratio were determined. Nutritional knowledge and eating practices were investigated by structured intervieweradministered questionnaires. Results: Statically; 49.7were overweight or obese (58.2of the females; 31.4of the males) and 65.2had waist circumferences putting them at risk for non-communicable diseases. Most did not meet the recommendations for intakes from the vegetable group (97.5ate 3 servings per day); the fruit group (42.2ate 2 servings per day); and the dairy group (92.6ate 2 servings per day); whilst 78.3ate ?4 serving per day of sugar or sweets. Most consumed margarine; oil or fat (68.3); sugar (59.0) and bread (55.9) daily; but few reported daily intakes of vegetables (12.4); fruit (23.6); fruit juice (21.2) and milk (15.6). Fewer than 50knew the recommended intakes for vegetables; fruit; dairy; starchy foods and meat or meat alternatives. Conclusions: These nursing students had a high prevalence of overweight and obesity; poor eating habits and inadequate knowledge on key nutrition issues; which may impact negatively on their efficacy as future health ambassadors to the public