Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Quality of University Students in Iraq

The study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and qualitative status of students at Al-Qasim Green University. Importance of studying dietary patterns and nutritional status can give a clear view of qualitative and quantitative deficiencies compared to standard recommendations and increase the knowledge of students on healthy diets. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for 11 months. The study included 256 students, 137 males and 119 females. According to our findings, students’ average BMI was 22.9; a high percentage of students (67.3%) had a normal BMI, while (22.2%) and (3.9%) were overweight and underweight, respectively. 38%, 44.12%, and 5.73% of students ate two meals, three meals, or more than three meals, respectively. 50.10% of students ate breakfast, while 28.71% skipped breakfast. Male students are more likely than female students to skip breakfast. 51.53% and 66.56% of students, respectively, ate lunch and dinner, while the students who did not eat lunch and dinner were 8% and 21.85%, respectively. More than a quarter of students ate snacks. 8.30% of students did not eat snacks, while more than half of the students ate snacks sometimes. 27.4% of males and 39.7% of females ate meat daily, while 42.6% of males and 41.7% of females ate meat ≥3 times. As for fish and seafood, it is noted that a high percentage of males (62.5%) and females (72.4%) eat <3 Times. A high percentage of males and females ate vegetables and fruit daily. More than half of males and females ate fast food <3 Times. Vitamin An intake for males and females was slightly less than the RNI, while the amount of other vitamins consumed was higher than the RNI. The amount of minerals consumed by males and females is higher than the RNI.