Determinants of food choices on online food delivery applications among university students: a cross-sectional study

The rapid expansion of online food delivery applications (OFDAs) has substantially influenced dietary behaviors among university students. This study examined factors associated with food choices, perceptions of healthy meals, and attitudes toward food safety among OFDAs users at King Khalid University. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 397 students using a validated online questionnaire. Fast food was the most frequently ordered meal (72.0%), and price was the primary determinant of food choice. Male students were more likely than female students to select healthier options, and healthy food selection differed significantly by body mass index, with the highest proportion among students with obesity. Binary logistic regression showed that price (OR = 2.085), food appearance (OR = 1.487), and perceiving a healthy meal as containing a variety of vegetables (OR = 1.492) were significant predictors of healthy meal selection. Food safety perceptions were significantly associated with meal temperature and packaging, with meal temperature commonly reported as an indicator of food quality and safety. These findings suggest that food choices among OFDA users are associated with multiple factors and may inform efforts to improve the affordability, nutritional quality, visual appeal, and safety of meal options in digital food environments.