Anthropometric and Socio-Economic Determinants of Dietary Diversity Scores in University Students

Eating habits, particularly, diversity of diets of university students, are not reported. Objectives: To investigate the dietary habits with special consideration of the dietary diversity score of university students at Bacha Khan University Charsadda (BKUC). Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on a sample (n=200) of students from various teaching departments. Data on anthropometry and dietary intake were collected. Dietary diversity score (DDS) was calculated by employing a normal food category score scheme. Anthropometric data, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), were recorded alongside socioeconomic data. Group differences were evaluated using one-way ANOVA and t-tests for evaluating differences in DDS based on SES and the anthropometric measures. Results: As expected, significantly higher scores of DDS were found in the subjects who had higher economic status (p<0.001). A high negative relationship existed between DDS and anthropometrics (BMI, WC, and WHR), especially in the female students (p<0.05). The intake of grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, and protein, and an improved intake in DDS quartiles (p<0.01), once again validated DDS as a solid measure of dietary diversity and intake. Conclusions: It was concluded that higher DDS are associated with better intake of special food categories and better anthropometric indicators. These findings reinforce the importance of promoting dietary diversity to promote health and prevent chronic disease.