Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption and General Consumption Pattern as Correlates of Health Status of Undergraduate Students in Ondo City, Nigeria

This study builds on an earlier investigation of the ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and general consumption patterns of undergraduate students in Ondo City of Ondo State, Nigeria. It sought to assess the relationship between health statuses. One question and two null hypotheses guided the study. A quantitative survey research design was adopted in the study, and the Adeyemi Federal University of Education was the sampled area for the study in the city. The sample size for the survey comprised 2% of the estimated population (240 respondents). Data was collected from 240 respondents using the Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption Pattern and Effects on Students’ Health Questionnaire (UCPESHQ) and analysed statistically (using frequency count, percentage, simple ranking and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation). The significant findings were that the most everyday self-reported ailment, medically diagnosed ailment and worrisome clinical features are sleeping disorder (41.9%), ulcer (11.4%) and dandruff (19.1%), respectively. The students are averagely average in weight (58.5%). It was also found that UPF consumption is significantly associated with self-reported ailments (r = 0.160, ρ = 0.014) and worrisome clinical features (r = 0.185; ρ = 0.004). It was recommended that management teams of universities should work with appropriate stakeholders to facilitate sustainable feeding and healthcare programs for undergraduate students.