Abstract
BACKGROUND: Eating habits are important determinants of health. Young adults who have recently transitioned to university life experience stress and lack of time, which are major risk factors for poor eating habits. This study's objectives were to identify and compare eating habits between students at health and non-health colleges at Northern Border University (NBU), Saudi Arabia and to determine the relationship between students' eating habits and their sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. METHODS: This comparative cross-section study was conducted on 480 students equally from health and non-health colleges at NBU from March to April 2023. A pre-designed electronic questionnaire was used to collect data on students' sociodemographic characteristics, eating habits, and diet-related psychological factors. Statistical analyses were carried out using STATA/SE version 11.2 for Windows. RESULTS: Unhealthy eating habits were reported by 44.6% and 41.3% of students at health and non-health colleges, respectively. Most students had irregular meals, skipped breakfast, ate fast food frequently, and consumed insufficient amounts of vegetables, fruits, and water. Parental separation, living away from family predisposed to unhealthy eating habits. Being 21-23 years old, playing sports, and high body mass index were linked to healthy eating habits. Psychological factors such as overeating until the stomach hurts and eating to feel happy were associated with unhealthy eating habits. CONCLUSION: Unhealthy eating habits were prevalent among students at NBU irrespective of the type of study. Thus, implementing initiatives to promote nutrition and healthy eating habits within the university environment is crucial for health promotion and well-being among students.