COMPARISON OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS BETWEEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS LIVING AT DORMITORY AND STUDENTS LIVING AT HOME

Background: Transitioning into college can pose as an important challenge to a student?s eating behaviors. The present study aim was to compare nutritional patterns between dormitory and non-dormitory female students in Taibah university, in Saudi Arabia also to assess the nutritional conditions of these students. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among three hundred and two female undergraduate students at Taibah university, ages 18?22 years. One hundred and forty-seven of them have being lived in dormitory, as well as one hundred and fifty-five live with their families. Participants completed a self-administered three-day food record (FR) in addition to a structured questionnaire that included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, dietary habits, and physical activities. Also, anthropometric measurements were obtained. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package (version 22.0) and the level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The results of this study showed that ninety one percent of the female students living at university dorms changed their dietary habits after joined to the university compared to fifty-six percent of the female students living at home with their families (p<0.05). Moreover, sixty-eight percent of dormitory female students and forty-one percent of those living at home with their families skipped breakfast. Also, the results showed a significant difference between dormitory and non-dormitory female students in energy, protein, and dietary fiber consumption. Dormitory students consumed 148.9 calories more per day, 24.25 grams (g) of protein less per day, and 5.5 grams (g) of dietary fiber less per day (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, only twenty-two percent of them consume protein daily. Conclusion: Female students living in the university dorms were at a higher risk of developing unhealthy dietary habits. Launching Nutritional counseling offices to educate students on nutritional issues are important and providing a dining hall service is needed to help solve dietary problems inside dorms.