One fourth of university students on diet – report

A staggering 24% of university students are on a diet and a further 34% intend to follow suit, a study on the eating habits of university students, published in the Malta Medical Journal, shows.

Moreover, while two-thirds of students think they have the right weight, a quarter described themselves as being overweight, while about 11% believe they are underweight. More females (27%) than males (15%) are on a diet. But while more males think that their weight is not appropriate; they are less concerned than females about starting a diet.

A large proportion of the respondents who attempt to lose weight, resort to exercise (55.6%) or a dieting program (36.7%). But 8% used weight reduction methods such as vomiting, pills or smoking.

While males are more likely to resort to physical exercises to reduce weight, females are more likely reduce weight through dieting.

The study was based on a self-administered questionnaire was completed by a representative sample of 494 undergraduate students stratified by gender and faculty.

The study reveals that nearly 50% of students had only between one and two servings of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis and  less than half had a regular healthy breakfast.

The study also shows that students tend to opt for unhealthy snacks while on campus. White bread, rolls and sandwiches are the most consumed of snacks (66.8%), followed by sweets or chocolates (39.9%), with salads being the least selected snack (11.1%).

While white bread, rolls, sandwiches, cheesecakes and pastries are the more preferred snacks for males, brown bread, fruit, salads and crisps are more preferred by female students. But students tend consume healthier drinks. Water is by far the preferred drink (84.0%), followed by soft drinks, coffee/tea and juice and alcohol. Female students are more likely to consume healthier drinks than males, with the latter tending to drink more alcohol and soft drinks

"Despite being a highly educated group, the majority of students did not reach the healthy diet benchmarks explored in the study," the study concludes.

When asked to give suggestions on how the university may support students' health, the most cited recommendation by the students was healthier food in the canteen.

Students mentioned healthier foods in other venues on campus, including a salad bar, as well as the provision of free drinking water. The study entitled the dietary habits of university students was conducted by statistician Liberato Camilleri, and Carmel Cefai, Director of the European Centre for Educational Resilience and Socio Economic Health.