Eating Patterns and Nutritional Habits of Undergraduate Students: A CrossSectional Study in Lahore, Pakistan
TL;DR
The majority of undergraduate students in Lahore demonstrated moderately adequate eating patterns, with only one in four students achieving adequate dietary habits, determining the need for nutritional interventions, healthy food access on campus, and dietary awareness campaigns specifically for Pakistani university students.
Abstract
In Pakistan, university students are more vulnerable to dietary changes that may be influenced by varying social and environmental factors. However, complete evidence on eating patterns among university students in Pakistan remains inadequate. This study aimed to assess eating patterns and nutritional habits of undergraduate students across multiple universities in Lahore, and to examine associations between socio-demographic factors and dietary adequacy. This crosssectional study was conducted among 400 undergraduate students from multiple universities in Lahore. The data were collected via convenience sampling from the Medical, Allied Health, Business and Commerce, Computer Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, and Engineering departments. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data, along with a 14-item dietary habits scale and a 23-item food frequency questionnaire, both scored on a 3-point scale, with reverse scoring applied to unhealthy items. Pilot testing was done, yielding a Cronbach's alpha of 0.633. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression, conducted using SPSS. The mean age of participants was 21.10 ± 1.72 years. Dietary habits were categorized as inadequate in 39.3% of students, moderately adequate in 35.8%, and adequate in 25.0%. A mean dietary habit score of 29.2 ±3.13 was observed, reflecting moderate eating practices. Students reported positive behaviors such as eating at home and enjoying dietary variety, as well as unhealthy eating patterns, including irregular meal timing and frequent consumption of fast food and processed food. No statistically significant associations were found between socio-demographic variables and dietary habit levels (p > 0.05). Students from the Medical, Business, and Engineering departments had significantly lower dietary adequacy scores than those of Allied Health students (B = −1.113, p = 0.007), and family history of diabetes mellitus was a significant negative predictor of dietary adequacy (B = −0.869, p = 0.021). The majority of undergraduate students in Lahore demonstrated moderately adequate eating patterns, with only one in four students achieving adequate dietary habits. These findings determine the need for nutritional interventions, healthy food access on campus, and dietary awareness campaigns specifically for Pakistani university students. Keywords: Eating patterns, nutritional habits, university students, socio-economic factors, Pakistan, Lahore.