Evaluation of physical activity, eating habits, and food consumption among Jordanian university students

Background: University students may have many unhealthy food habits, which can result in poor academic performance, dietary deficiencies, and an increased risk of obesity and related health problems. Aim: To evaluate eating habits and physical activity patterns among students enrolled at Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional design study using a validated self-report questionnaire was performed among randomly chosen 240 university students, aged 18–25 years, from 2023. A 24-h dietary recall was used to calculate energy and nutrients from dietary data. A 24-hour dietary recall was used for that. The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) and mean intake daily were compared. Results: The results revealed that approximately 22% of males and 8% of females were overweight, whereas 8.3% of males and 2.5% of females were obese. Approximately 82% and 56% of female and male participants were moderately active, respectively. Furthermore, 44.2% of male students and 31.6% of female students reported that they skipped breakfast. It seems that the mean daily intake of some micronutrients was better in males than in females. The mean daily calorie intake of males and females was 2180 and 1832 Kcal., respectively. Fat, protein, and carbohydrate contributions to total energy were within the acceptable macronutrient distribution range (AMDR) in both genders. Additionally, average daily intake of the food groups was determined based on the Food Guide Pyramid. It was noted that the serving of fruits had the highest daily intake (2.5), followed by meat (1.5) for the entire sample. Conclusion: Students must increase their intake of dairy products, grains, and vegetables. Moreover, they must consume breakfast regularly and engage in regular physical activities to achieve optimal health and well-being. Furthermore, the findings can serve as a foundation for creating appropriate intervention plans to promote students, healthy eating habits.