Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon

Context and objective. The time spent by young people at the university is generally marked by a profound transition in lifestyle and eating habits, which exposes them to several risk factors for diseases that will develop later such as chronic diseases related to diet. The objective of this study w...

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Main Authors: Francoise Raissa Ntentie, Mary-Ann Angie Mbong, Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente, Christine Fernande Biyegue Nyangono, Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo, Cedric Bissal, Palouma Souavourbe, Franck Avom-Me Mbida, Julius Enyong Oben
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1431743
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author Francoise Raissa Ntentie
Mary-Ann Angie Mbong
Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente
Christine Fernande Biyegue Nyangono
Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo
Cedric Bissal
Palouma Souavourbe
Franck Avom-Me Mbida
Julius Enyong Oben
author_facet Francoise Raissa Ntentie
Mary-Ann Angie Mbong
Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente
Christine Fernande Biyegue Nyangono
Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo
Cedric Bissal
Palouma Souavourbe
Franck Avom-Me Mbida
Julius Enyong Oben
author_sort Francoise Raissa Ntentie
collection DOAJ
description Context and objective. The time spent by young people at the university is generally marked by a profound transition in lifestyle and eating habits, which exposes them to several risk factors for diseases that will develop later such as chronic diseases related to diet. The objective of this study was to assess malnutrition and identify the particular risk factors for malnutrition among students at the University of Maroua. Methods. Three hundred and thirty students of both sexes, aged between 17 and 35 years old, were recruited from January to February 2018. Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and BMI) were measured, and an eating and lifestyle questionnaire was administered to each participant, as well as a 24-hour dietary recall. Results. The mean age of participants was 23.95 ± 3.67 years and BMI was 22.19 ± 2.78 kg/m2. Approximately 6.1% were underweight, 12.1% overweight, and 0.9% obese, and all age groups were affected. Concerning eating habits, low protein, fruit, and vegetable consumption were recorded among students. Cereals were the main source of carbohydrates consumed. Besides, 6% of them had a low dietary intake, 21% had a poorly diversified diet, and 2% were highly food insecure. The students’ daily macronutrient intake was within the recommended reference values, except for carbohydrates, which exceeded and represented 62.69± 13.84% of daily energy intake. Also, only 32.2% of respondents had adequate energy intake. A poorly diversified diet was associated with a high incidence of overweight. Conclusions. Both forms of malnutrition are indeed present among the students of the University of Maroua, and nutritional education for this young segment of the population will be essential to prevent complications associated with malnutrition in the working life.
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spelling doaj-art-58ceed1fe9ca4e83a815114d5022db9c2025-08-20T03:34:37ZengWileyJournal of Nutrition and Metabolism2090-07322022-01-01202210.1155/2022/1431743Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, CameroonFrancoise Raissa Ntentie0Mary-Ann Angie Mbong1Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente2Christine Fernande Biyegue Nyangono3Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo4Cedric Bissal5Palouma Souavourbe6Franck Avom-Me Mbida7Julius Enyong Oben8Department of Earth and Life SciencesLaboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional BiochemistryLaboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional BiochemistryLaboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional BiochemistryLaboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional BiochemistryDepartment of Earth and Life SciencesDepartment of Earth and Life SciencesDepartment of Earth and Life SciencesLaboratory of Nutrition and Nutritional BiochemistryContext and objective. The time spent by young people at the university is generally marked by a profound transition in lifestyle and eating habits, which exposes them to several risk factors for diseases that will develop later such as chronic diseases related to diet. The objective of this study was to assess malnutrition and identify the particular risk factors for malnutrition among students at the University of Maroua. Methods. Three hundred and thirty students of both sexes, aged between 17 and 35 years old, were recruited from January to February 2018. Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and BMI) were measured, and an eating and lifestyle questionnaire was administered to each participant, as well as a 24-hour dietary recall. Results. The mean age of participants was 23.95 ± 3.67 years and BMI was 22.19 ± 2.78 kg/m2. Approximately 6.1% were underweight, 12.1% overweight, and 0.9% obese, and all age groups were affected. Concerning eating habits, low protein, fruit, and vegetable consumption were recorded among students. Cereals were the main source of carbohydrates consumed. Besides, 6% of them had a low dietary intake, 21% had a poorly diversified diet, and 2% were highly food insecure. The students’ daily macronutrient intake was within the recommended reference values, except for carbohydrates, which exceeded and represented 62.69± 13.84% of daily energy intake. Also, only 32.2% of respondents had adequate energy intake. A poorly diversified diet was associated with a high incidence of overweight. Conclusions. Both forms of malnutrition are indeed present among the students of the University of Maroua, and nutritional education for this young segment of the population will be essential to prevent complications associated with malnutrition in the working life.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1431743
spellingShingle Francoise Raissa Ntentie
Mary-Ann Angie Mbong
Boris Ronald Tonou Tchuente
Christine Fernande Biyegue Nyangono
Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo
Cedric Bissal
Palouma Souavourbe
Franck Avom-Me Mbida
Julius Enyong Oben
Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism
title Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
title_full Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
title_fullStr Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
title_full_unstemmed Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
title_short Malnutrition, Eating Habits, Food Consumption, and Risk Factors of Malnutrition among Students at the University of Maroua, Cameroon
title_sort malnutrition eating habits food consumption and risk factors of malnutrition among students at the university of maroua cameroon
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/1431743
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