Dietary Pattern and Diet Diversity of Undergraduate Students of Eastern India: An Online Survey Based Cross-Sectional Study

Dietary diversity is a key component of a high-quality diet and is associated with reduced risks of chronic diseases and undernutrition. Recognizing its importance, this study aimed to identify the dietary patterns and diet diversity scores among undergraduate students in Eastern India. A cross-sectional, online questionnaire-based study was conducted over six months. Data were collected through a Google Form shared via social media and personal contacts, with informed consent obtained from all participants. The questionnaire included sections on general information, dietary variety and patterns, and anthropometric details. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of MTMC, Jamshedpur, and data analysis was performed using Jamovi software (version 2.2.5). A total of 354 students participated, most of whom were MBBS students from private colleges in Jharkhand and residing in hostels. Although most students reported consuming regular meals and snacks, breakfast skipping (74.8%) and irregular mealtimes (75.2%) were highly prevalent. Male students and those enrolled in MBBS programs demonstrated higher Diet Diversity Scores, which showed a significant association with Body Mass Index (BMI), suggesting a link between dietary diversity and nutritional status. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for improving diet diversity scores among undergraduate students in Eastern India. Furthermore, the observed irregular eating patterns and frequent breakfast skipping call for increased awareness and interventions to promote healthier dietary habits among this population.