Culture and eating behaviour of nursing students of the University of Granada: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: the university period is mainly characterised by distance from family, so eating behaviours are undoubtedly modified. Health is shown as a value defining food selection by consumers and, in turn, presents relevant differences among people based on their social and cultural environments. The aim of this study was to describe and correlate the eating behaviours of healthcare-field university students of the Melilla campus, as well as cultural factors. Methods: with a convenience sampling approach, 192 nursing students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences of Melilla at the University of Granada were selected to investigate the status of eating behaviours, food consumption preferences, and healthy food using descriptive and inferential analysis with correlational statistical techniques. Results: the most Christians prepare their meals themselves (60.5%), while 70.3% of Muslims report that it is their parents who prepare them. As regards the percentage of people who remove all the visible fat from the meat, in Muslims it is 81.1%, while in Christians it is 48.1% with a p-value of 0.014 (χ² = 15.890). Preference for consumption of vegetables, fish, and seafood is higher among Muslims, while consumption of alcohol and ultra-processed food is higher in Christians These findings were statistically significant (p < 0.001 for alcohol consumption; Kruskal-Wallis test, H = 58.264, p < 0.001). Conclusions: university students in the healthcare field of the Melilla Campus show unhealthy eating behaviours. The analyses show that cultural differences significantly influence eating behaviours, highlighting the need to implement educational programs on nutrition, particularly among future healthcare professionals who will serve as role models for the community.