Study on the Dietary Behaviors and Eating Habits of University Students in the Gyeongnam Region in the Post-COVID-19 Era Using the Nutrition Quotient for Adults

The university years are a critical period for developing healthy lifestyle habits that can profoundly impact health outcomes later in adulthood. However, university students often face nutritional imbalances and health risks due to academic pressures, irregular schedules and unhealthy lifestyles, which frequently result in their relying on convenient, high-calorie foods. This study aimed to evaluate the dietary behaviors and habits of university students using the Nutrition Quotient and to propose targeted strategies for improvement. A total of 361 university students from the Gyeongnam region participated in the study, which employed the revised Nutrition Quotient for Adults checklist. The survey covered three domains: the balance domain, assessing the intake of various food groups; the moderation domain, examining the frequency of unhealthy food consumption; and the practice domain, evaluating the implementation of healthy dietary behaviors. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS software (version 23). The results showed that the students had an average Nutrition Quotient score of 48.43, which was lower than the national average. In the balance domain, significant deficiencies were observed in the consumption of fish and dairy products, and over 45% of students regularly skipped breakfast. In the moderation domain, frequent consumption of snacks, fast food, red meat, and processed meats was noted, with male students consuming these items more frequently than the females. In the practice domain, 77.8% of students reported a high rate of handwashing and only 47.3% stated that they regularly checked nutrition labels. Furthermore, over 60% of students engaged in binge drinking at least once a month, and physical inactivity was an important issue, particularly among female students, 50% of whom reported that they did not undertake regular exercise. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need to address the unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits of university students. Suggested interventions include implementing comprehensive nutrition education programs, promoting physical activity through campus－wide initiatives, and introducing strategies to reduce alcohol consumption. These measures are crucial for improving the overall health and well-being of university students.