Assessment of Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Practices Among Non-Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Nutrition knowledge and dietary practices play a critical role in maintaining health, yet dietary behaviors among non-medical students often reflect unhealthy patterns influenced by lifestyle, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. Understanding these practices is crucial for designing targeted interventions. Objective: This study aimed to assess the nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and associated barriers among undergraduate non-medical students at Government Brajalal College, Khulna, Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2023 among 160 undergraduate students from various disciplines using purposive sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and perceived barriers. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and p-values were used for quantitative analysis, while thematic analysis explored qualitative insights. Results: The study revealed that 67.5% of participants had moderate-to-good nutrition knowledge. Daily consumption of fruits and vegetables was reported by 60% and 75% of participants, respectively, while 23.8% consumed fast food daily. Significant barriers included academic pressure (63.8%), economic constraints (30.6%), and cultural dietary preferences (51.9%). Social media emerged as the primary source of nutrition information for 63.8% of students. A significant association (p < 0.001) was observed between socioeconomic status and fast-food consumption, with lower SES students consuming fast food more frequently. Self-reported health outcomes included fatigue (55.6%) and weight gain (32.5%). Conclusion: Despite moderate nutrition knowledge, unhealthy dietary practices were prevalent among students, driven by barriers such as lifestyle constraints and socioeconomic factors. Targeted interventions, such as affordable meal planning and credible online nutrition education, are essential to bridge the gap between knowledge and behavior.