ABSTRACT
University is a critical period regarding unhealthy changes in eating behaviours of students. Many food preferences are established early, but because people make more and more independent eating decisions as they move through adolescence, the transition to independents living during the university days is an important events. Students need more nutrient intake as they require an additional food intake due to academics and various activities on campus. Dietary intake and nutrition behaviours at this period of life influence lifelong eating habits and contribute to the development of risk factors for disease in adulthood, identification of the reasons behind food consumption could help to reduce the burden of several disease. The purpose of this study therefore was to explore the factors that influence consumption of food by some undergraduate study in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to collected data from the students. In total, 432 university students (206 males and 229 females) from varied study disciplines were given a questionnaire comprising of three major Section: (1) socio-economic characteristics, (2) food consumption pattern, (3) food frequency table, (4) 24 hours dietary recall. The collected data was coded and analyzed using computer Software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) windows version 22.0. The respondents choice of food were influenced by availability of the food as reported by majority (49.5%) of the students while 22.5% of them reported that their food choice is influenced by economic factors, while educational influences affect the food choice of 6.9% of the students. Also their high consumption of vegetables can be accounted for as a result of its availability as reported by majority (46.3%) of the students and 27.1% reported that the reason for consuming more of their choice of vegetables is because of its affordability. The result further revealed that the student’s choice of fruit is however, as a result availability as reported by majority (38.0%) of the students. In the same vein, 33.6% said affordability of the fruit is the main reason for the choice of fruit. The data provided a rich descriptive data regarding multi-level factors influencing undergraduate’s food choices such as availability and accessibility, appeal and prices of food products, however majority of the students reported to be mostly influenced by the availability and affordability of foods. Throughout adulthood, the importance of good eating habits cannot be over emphasized; hence the need for nutritional welfare of the undergraduates must be recommended and forward to the federal government of Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
LIST OF TABLES viii
ABSTRACT ix
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.1.1 What
are foods 2
1.1.2 What
is food consumption? 3
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 3
1.3 Objective of the Study 7
1.3.1 General Objective of the Study 7
1.3.2 Specific
Objectives of the Study 7
1.4 Significance
of the Study 7
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Factors Influencing Consumption of Food
by Undergraduates 10
2.1.1 Educational influences 10
2.1.2 Economic influences 12
2.1.3 Availability of food influencing food
consumption 13
2.1.4 Influence of family eating patterns on food
consumption of
young
adults 14
2.1.5 Influence of cultural background on food
consumption of
young
adult 15
2.1.6 Influence of figure development consciousness
on food
consumption
of young adults 16
2.1.7The influence of fads and
fallacies on food consumption of
young
adults 17
2.1.8 Influence of stress on food consumption of
young adults 19
2.1.9 Influence of work on food consumption on young
adults 20
2.1.10 Influence of gender and age on food
consumption of young adults 21
2.2 Nutrient Requirements for Adolescents 22
2.2.1 Dietary reference intakes 23
2.2.2 Energy and nutrient needs 24
2.2
Lifestyle Diseases 37
2.3 The University Environment 38
CHAPTER
3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 study
Design 41
3.2 Area
of Study 41
3.3 Population
of Study 42
3.4 Sampling
and Sample Size 43
3.4.1 Sample
Selection 44
3.5 Data
Collection 44
3.5.1
Questionnaire Administration 44
3.6
Data Analysis 44
CHAPTER 4
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Background Information of the
Respondents 46
4.2 Socio-Economic Characteristics of the
Respondents 49
4.3 Feeding Habit of Respondents 51
4.3.1 Dietary pattern of respondents 51
4.3.2
Factors influencing consumption pattern of the respondents 54
4.3.3 Food choice of the respondents and
the factors influencing it 57
4.4 Food Frequency of the Respondents 60
CHAPTER
5
CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Conclusion 72
5.2 Recommendations 72
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 2.1: Recommended Caloric (Kcal) and Protein
Intakes for Adolescents 23
Table 4.1: Background
information of the respondents 48
Table 4.2 Socio-economic characteristics
of the respondents 50
Table 4.3.1: Dietary pattern of
respondents 53
Table 4.3.2: Factors influencing
consumption pattern of the respondents 56
Table 4.3.3: Food choice of the
respondents and the factors
influencing it 59
Table 4.4a: Frequency of consumption
of starchy roots and tuber
products by
respondents 61
Table 4.4b: Frequency of consumption
of dairy products by respondents 62
Table 4.4c: Frequency of consumption
of fats and oil products by respondents 63
Table 4.4d: Frequency of consumption
of pastas by respondents 64
Table 4.4e: Frequency of consumption
of cereals and cereal products by
Respondents 66
Table 4.4f: Frequency of consumption of
legumes and its
products by respondents 67
Table 4.4g: Frequency of consumption of
starchy fruits by respondents 68
Table 4.4h: Frequency of consumption of
green leafy and non-leafy vegetables by respondents 69
Table 4.4i: Frequency of consumption of
fruits by respondents 70
Table
4.4j: Frequency of consumption of meat and fish by respondents 71
CHAPTER
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
The national university
commission (NUC) (2016) stated that people from 16years and above are people
that are qualified for university education. Adolescence (from Latin adolescere,
meaning 'to grow up') is a transitional stage of physical and psychological
development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal
adulthood (age of maturity) (Marmot, 2003).
Adolescence is usually
associated with the teenage years, but its physical, psychological or cultural
expressions may begin earlier and end later (Dorn and Biro, 2011).Adolescence
can be defined biologically, as the physical transition marked by the onset of
puberty and the termination of physical growth, cognitively, as changes in the
ability to think abstractly and multi-dimensionally or socially, as a period of
preparation for adult roles(Arnett,
2007). The end of adolescence and the beginning of adulthood varies by country
and by function. Furthermore, even within a single nation, state or culture,
there can be different ages at which an individual is considered (chronologically
and legally) mature enough for society to entrust them with certain privileges
and responsibilities(Sisk
and Foster, 2004). Such milestones include driving a vehicle, having legal
sexual relations, serving in the armed forces or on a jury, purchasing and
drinking alcohol, voting, entering into contracts, finishing certain levels of
education, and marriage. Adolescence is usually accompanied by an increased
independence allowed by the parents or legal guardians, including less
supervision as compared to preadolescence period(Sisk and Foster, 2004).
1.1.1
What are foods?
A typical person makes
over 200 decisions about food each day (Wansink and Sobal, 2007).
Food is any substance
(solid or liquid) which when ingested provides the necessary raw materials for
the structure and functions of life, thus enabling the body to carry out its
life's functions (Alade, 2001). Foods are the complex substances that make a
variety of nutritive contributions to the diet of an individual and should be
evaluated in terms of their total composition and not only for single
nutrients. Man must therefore consume a variety of foods in order to consume
all the nutrients needed by the body (Shils, 2006). Food is a major determinant
of human health. Healthful living is a major part of family life and depends
entirely on good nutrition (Compton, 1970).
1.1.2
What is food consumption?
Food consumption is the
act of taking in available response to physiological demands of the individuals
(Olusanya, 1997). This definition implies that food consumption is the means of
satisfying hunger needs. Martin(1978) and hosts of sociologists agree that
economic status and other factors such as cultural backgrounds, educational
influences, family eating pattern motivation and sensory reaction to food, all
determine the food consumption of individuals in the family.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Today, in Nigeria many
young adults engage in various activities that take them away from home. Some
of them trade at the market places, some engage in hawking in the streets,
others drop out of school and work as low income earners in various
establishments while others are different apprentices in different areas such
as motor mechanic, tailoring, carpentry etc. But majority of the young adults
still struggle to continue in their education, and engage in paid employment (Butler et al., 2004). In every situation where
young adults find themselves, they eat whatever food that is available for
consumption. The food are often ‘’street foods’’ (which are otherwise called
fast food). Such foods are usually of poor quality and are un-hygienically
prepared (Butler et al., 2004).
In a study carried out by
some researchers, adolescents have been noted to be conscious of their figure
hence try they to avoid eating enough food that would meet their nutritional
needs (Okeke,2001). Students need more nutrient intake as they require an
additional food intake due to academics and various activities on campus (Fitzgerald
et al., 2012). However, because of
the current socio-economic problem in Nigeria, students are known to feed
poorly due to their low purchasing potentials (Fitzgerald et al., 2012).
During the transition
from secondary school to university, students need to adapt to a new
environment (Dyson and Rank, 2006). When students fail to adapt adequately,
this could have negative consequences towards their health behaviours and
subsequent weight status (Von Ah et al.,2004).
Eating behaviour (next to physical activity and sedentary behaviour) is an
important factor influencing students’ weight. According to studies conducted
in US universities, students were not eating the recommended amount of fruit
and vegetables, and were consuming increasing amounts of high-fat foods (Silliman
et al., 2004). Furthermore, Butler et al. (2004) reported significant
decreases in the amount of bread and vegetables consumed during the first year
of university and significant increases in percentage fat intake and alcohol
consumption in US students.
Unhealthy eating and
excessive alcohol consumption may contribute significantly to energy intake and
may therefore facilitate student weight gain (Lloyd et al., 2008). The same pattern of weight gain in university students
is emerging in Europe (Deliens et al.,
2013). However, European literature on dietary intake in university students is
scarce. Rates of overweight and obesity have increased dramatically among adolescents
and lifestyle changes seem to be the main contributor to this change (Baskin et al., 2005).Adolescent obesity is not
only capable of affecting adolescents’ current health but also has an impact on
later life independently of weight status in adulthood. Dietary intake and nutrition
behaviours at this period of life influence lifelong eating habits and
contribute to the development of risk factors for disease in adulthood (Jacques
et al., 1992).Therefore,
identification of the reasons behind food consumptions could help to reduce the
burden of several diseases.
Food consumption in
general is a complex process that depends on culture and could be influenced by
different factors such as personal, social, economic and emotional. Teenagers
make many more choices for themselves than they did as children. Moreover,
since eating is a social act, social networks and family can affect their food
consumption even more (Contento et al.,
2006). In addition, globalization is
eroding traditional foods and offering more food choice and availability, all
of which could influence their eating patterns (Serra-Majem et al., 2004).
The undergraduates are
mostly made up of adolescents since adolescence have large number of food
decisions which recently have been overwhelmingly negative in terms of diet and
health outcomes. Few adolescents Nigeria are eating recommended amounts of
whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products and are instead
consuming high amounts of fast foods and high-sugar snack foods (Rasmussen et al., 2006). At the same time, obesity
and diabetes in adolescents are increasing in prevalence and unhealthy dietary
patterns have been considered one of the most frequent risk factors for chronic
disease among adolescents (Lowry et al.,
1996). Since students spend much of their time in a school and consume at least
one meal there per day this setting provides an opportunity to influence what
students eat (Story et al.,
2009).Meal skipping, snacking and weight loss dietary behaviour were some of
the unhealthy eating behaviours depicted by university students (Chin and
Nasir, 2009). Nigeria is faced with nutritional problem which is mostly due to
inadequate food supply, poor income and lack of proper education on food items.
This problem leads to malnutrition, a consequence of unbalanced diet which
leads to poor physique and low energy output (Falusi, 1996; Akinterinwa, 1995).
The above points underscores the reason for this study.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
1.3.1 General Objective of the Study
The general objective of
this study is to investigate the factors influencing the consumption of food by
undergraduates in Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia
State.
1.3.2 Specific Objectives of the Study
The specific objectives
of this study are to:
1. determine
the socio-economic status of the students.
2. identify
the type of foods that are consumed by the students.
3. determine
the frequency of consumption of the foods consumed by the students.
4. determine
the dietary intake using 24 hour dietary recall.
1.4 SIGINIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
To maximize the chance of
success of nutrition education interventions, it is critical to consider the
multitude of influences on undergraduate’s food consumption. This study employs
a multi-method approach to provide insight into the factors that may have an
impact on the eating behaviours of adolescents in Micheal Okpara University.
Study findings may guide future
researchers seeking to examine the influence of specific factors identified to
inform programs aimed at improving dietary intake in youth. Understanding
factors that influence an adolescent’s food consumption at school is important
for designing future interventions to increase the consumption of healthy foods
and beverages and reduce consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages by
undergraduates.
It is an obvious fact
that the young man needs good nutrition to give him strength and stamina needed
in the competitive world, after graduating from school. Specifically, the young
woman needs to develop good nutrition in order to be able to stand the stresses
of pregnancy and motherhood. Hence, the findings of the study will enable young
adults to be more conscious of their food intakes in order to eat adequate diet
regularly.
The findings of the study
will not only be an eye opener for all cooks both at home and in the campuses
of the tertiary institutions to be conscious of types of food prepared for young
adults' consumption but also will be of benefit to the family budget planners
to make adequate provision for feeding the young adults in the families and
would be beneficial for designing and evaluating health- and
nutrition-promotion strategies that are appropriately targeted, as well as
providing useful data for the development of further research examining the
relationship between health and nutrition-related attitudes and dietary habits
among adolescents.
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