25. NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND EATING HABITS OF THE FIRST-YEAR AND THIRD-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS AT HANOI MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN 2022-2023
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objectives: Describe the nutritional status and eating habits of Y1 and Y3 medical students at Hanoi Medical University in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study on 520 Y1 (n = 260) and Y3 (n = 260) students. Data were collected through direct interviews and anthropometric measurements. Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to WHO 2007 standards (for Y1) and WHO 2000 (for Y3).
Results: The malnutrition rate in Y1 students was 5%, the rate of chronic energy deficiency (CED) in Y3 students was 19.6%. The rate of overweight-obesity (TC_BP) in the two groups was 7.3% (Y1), 6.6% (Y3), respectively. Only 16.9% of the study subjects ate three main meals, 32.5% hardly ate breakfast. The rate of skipping breakfast in women (36.6%) was higher than that of men (29.1%). Male students consumed meat more often than females (p<0.05), while females tended to eat less protein-rich foods.
Conclusions: The rate of CED in medical students is still significant, especially in Y3 students. Eating three main meals, especially breakfast, is important in improving nutritional status. It is necessary to implement nutrition education programs in schools, develop reasonable menus in the cafeteria and support students to raise awareness of healthy diets.
Article Details
Keywords
nutritional status, eating habits, medical students, Hanoi Medical University
References
[2] Kabir A, Miah S, Islam A. Factors influencing eating behavior and dietary intake among resident students in a public university in Bangladesh: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE. 2018 thg 6;13(6):e0198801.
[3] Ul Haq I, Mariyam Z, Li M, Huang X, Jiang P, Zeb F, et al. A Comparative Study of Nutritional Status, Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP) and Dietary Intake between International and Chinese Students in Nanjing, China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Sep;15(9):1910.
[4] Bede F, Cumber SN, Nkfusai CN, Venyuy MA, Ijang YP, Wepngong EN, et al. Dietary habits and nutritional status of medical school students: the case of three state universities in Cameroon. Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Jan 23;35:15.
[5] Ngọc HTL, Hòa NTT, Hương LT. Tình trạng dinh dưỡng và một số yếu tố liên quan của sinh viên Y1 Trường Đại học Y Hà Nội. Tạp Chí Nghiên Cứu Học. 2021 Dec 29;146(10):192–7.
[6] Lê N, Như Q. Tình trạng dinh dưỡng và kiến thức, thái độ, thực hành dinh dưỡng của sinh viên y3 trường đại học y khoa phạm ngọc thạch năm 2020 [Internet] [Thesis]. Trường đại học Y Hà Nội; 2020 [cited 2024 Feb 21]. Available from: http://dulieuso.hmu.edu.vn/handle/hmu/3005
[7] Phú PV, Pháp NT, Khanh TTV. Tình trạng dinh dưỡng và một số yếu tố liên quan của sinh viên y khoa năm thứ 4 và thứ 5 tại Đại học Tây Nguyên [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 Feb 21]. Available from: https://tapchiyhocvietnam.vn/index.php/vmj/article/view/2271/2079
[8] The WHO Child Growth Standards [Internet]. [cited 2025 Feb 27]. Available from: https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards/standards
[9] Body mass index (BMI) [Internet]. [cited 2024 Apr 18]. Available from: https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/topic-details/GHO/body-mass-index
[10] Nam HY học dự phòng V. Tình trạng dinh dưỡng và chất lượng cuộc sống của sinh viên năm thứ nhất đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2024 Feb 21]. Available from: http://www.tapchiyhocduphong.vn/tap-chi-y-hoc-du-phong/2014/06/tinh-trang-dinh-duong-va-chat-luong-cuoc-song-cua-sinh-vien-nam-thu-nhat-dai-hoc-o81E2019A.html
[11] Yahia N, Achkar A, Abdallah A, Rizk S. Eating habits and obesity among Lebanese university students. Nutr J. 2008 Oct 30;7:32.
[12] Savige G, Macfarlane A, Ball K, Worsley A, Crawford D. Snacking behaviours of adolescents and their association with skipping meals. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2007 Sep 17;4:36.
[13] Taha Z, Rashed A. The Effect of Breakfast on Academic Performance among High School Students in Abu Dhabi. Arab J Nutr Exerc AJNE. 2017 Nov 16;2:40.
[14] Feraco A, Armani A, Amoah I, Guseva E, Camajani E, Gorini S, et al. Assessing gender differences in food preferences and physical activity: a population-based survey. Front Nutr. 2024;11:1348456.
[15] Yurochko TP, Shevchenko MV, Wenom AHJ. Eating behaviour of international students in Ukraine. Wiadomosci Lek Wars Pol 1960. 2021;74(3 cz 2):708–12.