Abstract:

Childhood and adolescence have a special importance to gain and improve a healthy lifestyle and nutritional habits, and it is proposed as the basis of health problems like diabetes, hypertension and obesity at these stages of life. The study was performed to evaluate the body weights and nutritional status of female university students. A total 368 students from İstanbul, Marmara and Koç Universities selected by simple randomised sampling method. The nutritional status of the students were determined through a “food consumption form” and evaluated according to American Food Recommendation Committee. Body weights and heights were measured and evaluated by Body Mass Index. Students’ mean ages were 19.9±0.9 years, 79.0% of their weights were evaluated as normal, 15.7% were thin and 5.3% were overweight and obese, respectively. Students’ daily energy intakes and percent of energy from carbohydrates were below the recommendations; percent of energy from proteins and lipids were above the recommendations. Thiamin, folic acid, calcium and iron intakes were low, dietary fiber and vitamin E intakes were at borderline, riboflavin, vitamin B6, sodium, potassium and zinc intakes were at recommended levels, protein, vitamin A and C intakes were high. In conclusion, the female university students have an unhealthy nutritional pattern, their food intakes did not meet their energy and some important micronutrient requirements and being underweight was more prevalent than being overweight. The education of female students at their universities on healthy nutrition will contribute to their acquisition of positive nutritional habits and improvement of their health

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