Study of dietary habits among adolescents at Assiutand South Valley Universities : a non-clinical study

Abstract EN

A random sample of 54% students of Assiut (A U) and South Valley (SVU) universities was studied for evaluation of the dietary habits, nutrient intake and some demographic characteristics.

South Valley (SV) students were born in rural areas more than Assiut students (p<(0.001).

42 7% of Assiut group live In the university hostels compared to 37 7% of SV group student live with family in 38.2% of assiut and 30% of South Valley group.

13.8% of assiut and 30.6% of South valley live m shared flats Students live With relatives in 5.3% of and 1.7% of SV group(P< 0.001) Student eat breakfast regularly in 42.3% of assiut and 35.7%i of South Valley group without sex difference in each group .

Students regularly take fresh vegetables and salads in 20.3% * of Assiut and 32.3% of South Valley groups.

(p

The types and quantity of consumed foods in the previous 24 hours were coded according to standard food composition table (9) and transferred to their nutritive values The daily requirements from each food element were calculated according to WHO which consider the university students as moderately active Calories intake was adequate in 626% of Assiut and 72.4% of South valley group and females in each group look more calories than males (p<0.001).

Students live in university hostels had more calorie intake (p<0.001).

Nearly all students had their adequate total protein requirements without sex difference in each group The calcium Intake, was low in about half of Assiut males and females and is higher than in the South Valley group (p<0.05) It is not related to accommodation type The iron intake was low among females than male in each group (p<0..001)it is related to accommodation (p<0.001) only in SV students Adequate vitamin A intake was present in more than 85.5% of students with sex difference.

(p<0.05) only in SV group.

About 80% of males and all females took adequate vitamin Bl (p<0.001l) and vitamin B2 intake was not related to sex at accommodation in each group 72 4% of Assiut and 79.5% of South Valley had an adequate niacin intake and males were better than females in each group (p<0.001).

Adequate vitamin C intake was present in 72.4% of Assiut and 68.7%.

of SV group without significant difference (p 0.4).