A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Online Food Delivery (OFD) Platform Usage to Nutritional Status of the University of the Philippines Los Baños Students

With the increasing trend of online food delivery (OFD), it is vital to understand its nutritional implications for consumers, considering the rising malnutrition rates in the Philippines. Hence, this study analyzed the association between OFD usage and the nutritional status of sophomore students at UPLB using proportionate stratified sampling and an online self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and tests of independence were used to assess association at p≤0.05. The study revealed that most respondents used OFD platforms 1 to 3 times monthly (44.41%), with an average expenditure of <251 pesos per transaction (44.69\%). FoodPanda was the most popular platform (54.75%), and most students ordered meat or meat-based items (65.92%). Most students had normal nutritional status (61.2%), while 21.5% were underweight, 12.57% were overweight, and 4.75% were obese. Although no associations were found between OFD usage and nutritional status, it provided valuable insights into the utilization of OFD services and the nutritional status trends among students. These findings could assist the foodservice industry in retrofitting their services to accommodate the consumers' standards while promoting health. Additionally, the public health sector should reassess existing policies and programs and formulate more efficient interventions that address malnutrition, its risk factors, and its consequences.