Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the state of nutrition and the Healthy Eating Index in university students. METHODS: The study was analytical cross-section. The sample was made up of first-semester university students with a degree in Medicine and Nutrition, from the Autonomous University of Baja California in the period October 2017 to August 2019. Once the study sample was collected, the anthropometric and dietary assessment was carried out using a food consumption frequency questionnaire, which was considered to estimate the Healthy Food Index. RESULTS: The sample was 353 students (43% of men, 57% women) with an average age of 18.77 ± 1.83. According to the Body Mass Index, it corresponded to 9% underweight, 55% normal weight, 36% overweight/obese. The 62% of respondents showed a food pattern that “needs changes”, 36% “unhealthy” and 2% healthy. Similar results according to nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high. The results of the Healthy Eating Index indicate that the majority need healthy changes in their diet. FUNDING SOURCES: Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente.