Risk Profiles of Poor Diet Quality Among University Students: A Multivariate Segmentation Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• University students often exhibit unhealthy eating habits due to economic, cultural, and psychosocial factors, increasing risks for chronic and mental health disorders.
• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns among students, necessitating an understanding of diet quality (DQ) determinants.
• Identifying risk profiles for poor DQ is crucial for developing targeted interventions in diverse student populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk profiles associated with poor diet quality (DQ) among university students across Chile, Mexico, Spain, and Italy.
• To utilize multivariate segmentation analysis for understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing student dietary habits.
• To inform culturally and contextually relevant public health strategies for improving student nutrition.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional predictive study involving 686 university students (mean age 22.4 ± 5.1 years).
• Data collected via online questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, academic, health, and lifestyle factors, including PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form) and DQ (Healthy Eating Index).
• Analyses employed descriptive, inferential statistics, and decision tree models (CHAID and CART) for segmentation.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores were found across countries, fields of study, academic years, and PA levels (p < 0.001).
• Chilean and Mexican students demonstrated the lowest DQ. Decision tree models showed high overall accuracy but limited balanced accuracy, indicating value in identifying at-risk subgroups.
• Key determinants of poor DQ included country of residence, socioeconomic status, field of study, PA, and BMI, varying by analysis model.

Conclusions:

• Public health strategies should be tailored to local contexts, recommending Mediterranean-style diets in Europe and improved access to healthy foods in Latin America.
• Campus initiatives integrating nutrition education, physical activity promotion, and psychosocial support are essential for enhancing student well-being.
• Addressing socioeconomic and geographic factors is critical for mitigating poor diet quality among university students globally.