Dietary Habits and Lifestyle Practices among University Students in Universiti Brunei Darussalam

ABSTRACT

Background: Young adults are at risk of developing obesity, especially when transitioninginto university life as they become responsible for their daily eating and lifestyles. This studyestimates the prevalence of overweight/obesity and explores the eating patterns and lifestylepractices of university students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).A total of 303 students participated. Data was collected from January to April 2016. Self-designedquestionnaires comprised questions pertaining to current weight, self-reported height data,information on eating habits, exercise and knowledge of the food pyramid. The collected datawere used to compare and contrast eating habits and lifestyle practices among overweight/obesestudents with those of non-overweight/obese students.Results: The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 28.8% (95% CI 24.0%, 34.0%). Themajority ate regular daily meals, but more than half skipped breakfast. Frequent snacking, friedfood consumption at least three times per week and low intake of daily fruits and vegetableswere common. The frequency of visits to fast food restaurants was significantly higher in theoverweight/obese. 25.4% of the students exercised at least three times per week. Almost allstudents are aware of balanced nutrition and the food pyramid.Conclusions: Most university students had poor eating habits, although the majority hadgood nutrition knowledge. By way of recommendation, the university is encouraged to provide amulti-disciplinary team specialising in health promotion that includes nutrition and physicalactivity programmes to increase the awareness among the university students.