The evaluation of short-term nutrition education on the nutrition habits of university students

Abstract

Nutrition education provision during adolescence and its continuation in university have high impact for sustaining physically, mentally and socially healthy societies. Moreover, when a positive manner in nutrition habits is achieved following this activity, it is considered as a successful prosperity that continues lifelong. Because each age groups nutrition differs than other. The study was undertaken with the participation 395 students out of which 250 were female and 145 were. Questionnaires were undertaken for assessing any change in students’ nutritional habits following 20 hours of nutrition education. Results revealed 83.3% change in students’ nutrition habits following education program. Female students had internalized healthy food choice than male students by consuming more fruit and decreasing fast food preferences along with taking more care on controlling food label and expire dates of foods. These behaviors found statistically important with p<0.05 and effect of even a short period education was manifested. The next step would be to provide information that will increase the continuity and traceability of the nutrition training to course content planners in educational institutions. Because permanent habit development should be the main target for achieving successful results following nutritional education.