Nutrition knowledge, eating practices and barriers to healthy eating among university students in Pakistan

BackgroundPoor dietary habits due to inappropriate nutritional knowledge are becoming a major contributor to the development of chronic diseases, and these habits usually develop in the university years.AimsThis study aims to investigate the influence of nutritional knowledge on eating patterns and the barriers inhibiting the adoption of healthy eating practices among university students in Lahore, Pakistan.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among university students enrolled in various disciplines. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, eating practices, nutrition knowledge, and barriers to healthy eating were collected using a structured questionnaire validated through rigorous reviews by experts and pilot-tested to ensure its clarity, relevance, and reliability.ResultsOut of 397 students, about half reported consuming fast food (52.4%), snacks (66.2%), and sugary drinks (62.2%). Many students mentioned following a vegetarian (27.9%) and gluten-free diet (11.8%). There was a low consumption of fruits (10.1%) and vegetables (10.1%) daily. Most students demonstrated moderately healthy eating practices with moderate nutrition knowledge (75.8%), while a relatively small proportion (15.9%) practiced healthy eating with good nutrition knowledge. Nevertheless, barriers like lack of time (30%), less availability of healthy food on campus (61.2%), and high cost of healthy foods (75.8%) hindered the implementation of nutrition knowledge into practice.ConclusionThe results support that incorporating nutrition knowledge in health education campaigns for students will encourage healthy eating practices. However, to achieve meaningful outcomes, efforts should be made to address the behavioral and environmental barriers that hinder the translation of nutrition knowledge into actual practice.