Factors Influencing Students' Eating Habits : The case of Ibn Tofaïl University, Morocco.

Mohamed Rektouti; Mohamed El Bakkali; Said Bouchefra; Mohamed belomaria; Soad Khal-layoun; Abdellatif Bour

doi:10.23750/abm.vi.16809

Authors

Mohamed Rektouti Laboratory of Biology and Health, Team of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Health, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco
Mohamed El Bakkali Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Science, Biology and Health Laboratory, Kenitra, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques (ISPITS-Kenitra)
Said Bouchefra Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Science, Biology and Health Laboratory, Kenitra, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques (ISPITS-Taza)
Mohamed belomaria Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Science, Biology and Health Laboratory, Kenitra, Morocco; Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques (ISPITS-Kenitra)
Soad Khal-layoun Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Science, Biology and Health Laboratory, Kenitra, Morocco
Abdellatif Bour Laboratory of Biology and Health, Team of Nutritional Sciences, Food and Health, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco

Keywords:

Eating habits; university students; balanced diet; nutrition; Morocco

Abstract

Background: The transition to university life often disrupts students' eating habits, exposing them to unbalanced diets and health risks, particularly in developing countries like Morocco.

Objective: This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, behavioral and nutritional determinants associated with meal regularity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and adoption of a balanced diet among students at Ibn Tofaïl University in Kenitra. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2021 and January 2024 among 1,036 undergraduate students aged 18 to 30. Data on dietary habits, sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity were collected via self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with dietary behavior. Results : Female gender significantly increased the likelihood of regular meal frequency (OR = 2.66; p < 0.001) and fruit and vegetable consumption (OR = 2.19; p < 0.001). Self-preparation of meals was associated with greater meal regularity (OR = 2.27; p < 0.001) and adoption of a balanced diet (OR = 3.83; p < 0.001). A good knowledge of the principles of a healthy diet favored consumption of fruit and vegetables (OR = 1.99; p < 0.001) and following a balanced diet (OR = 2.25; p < 0.001). Consumption of traditional Moroccan dishes also increased the likelihood of adopting a balanced diet (OR = 1.34; p = 0.031). Conversely, the high cost of healthy foods was a significant brake on these behaviors (OR = 0.44; p < 0.001). Conclusions : Socio-cultural and behavioral factors play a key role in students' eating habits. Promoting autonomy in meal preparation, reinforcing nutrition education and improving accessibility to healthy, affordable foods could significantly improve university students' eating behaviors.

References

[1] M.A. Maillet, F.M.E. and Grouzet, Understanding changes in eating behavior during the transition to university from a self-determination theory perspective: a systematic review, J. Am. Coll. Health 71 (2023) 422–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1891922.

[2] Y. Tao, M. Wall, N. Larson, D. Neumark-Sztainer, E.M. Winpenny, Changes in diet quality across life transitions from adolescence to early adulthood: a latent growth analysis, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 120 (2024) 1215–1224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.08.017.

[3] S. Abraham, B.R. Noriega, J.Y. Shin, College students eating habits and knowledge of nutritional requirements, J. Nutr. Hum. Health 2 (2018) 13–17. https://doi.org/10.35841/nutrition-human-health.2.1.13-17.

[4] G. Sogari, C. Velez-Argumedo, M.I. Gómez, C. Mora, College students and eating habits: A study using an ecological model for healthy behavior, Nutrients 10 (2018) 1823. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10121823.

[5] N.L. Bragazzi, D. Del Rio, E.A. Mayer, P. Mena, We Are What, When, And How We Eat: The Evolutionary Impact of Dietary Shifts on Physical and Cognitive Development, Health, and Disease, Adv. Nutr. 15 (2024) 100280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100280.

[6] J.L. Fry, K.R. Anderson, Association Between Nutrition, Diet Quality, Dietary Patterns, and Human Health and Diseases, Nutrients 17 (2024) 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010003.

[7] R.E. Lacey, A. Letelier, B. Xue, A. McMunn, Changes in life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-rated health before, during, and after becoming a young carer in the UK: a longitudinal, propensity score analysis, Lancet Reg. Health - Eur. 50 (2025) 101187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2024.101187.

[8] M.V.-A. de Montgrémier, J. Chen, K. Guo, M.-R. Moro, Aspects culturels et transculturels des troubles du comportement alimentaire chez des adolescentes et jeunes adultes chinoises, Neuropsychiatr. Enfance Adolesc. 65 (2017) 146–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurenf.2017.03.002.

[9] R.F. Rodgers, L.M. Schaefer, J.K. Thompson, M. Girard, M. Bertrand, H. Chabrol, Psychometric properties of the Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4) in French women and men, Body Image 17 (2016) 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.03.002.

[10] S. Lipson, K. Sonneville, Eating disorder symptoms among undergraduate and graduate students at 12 US colleges and universities, Eat. Behav. 24 (2017) 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2016.12.003.

[11] N.A. Alsharairi, L. Li, Social marketing targeting healthy eating and physical activity in young adult university students: A scoping review, Heliyon 10 (2024) e31930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31930.

[12] M. Boukrim, Obésité et surpoids: Perception des facteurs de risque associés chez les femmes au sud du Maroc, (2022).

[13] Bouchefra, S., Ech-Chaouy, A., Rahmaoui, M., Arabi, F. E., Ammari, L. E., Yahyane, A., & Bour, A. (2022). Prevalence of Double Burden of Malnutrition and Associated Factors of Weight Gain among Schoolchildren in Taza, Eastern Morocco. Israa University Journal for Applied Science, 6(1), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.52865/xonf5359

[14] A. Kabir, S. Miah, A. Islam, Factors influencing eating behavior and dietary intake among resident students in a public university in Bangladesh: A qualitative study, PloS One 13 (2018) e0198801. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198801.

[15] N.M. Almoraie, N.M. Alothmani, W.D. Alomari, A.H. Al-amoudi, Addressing nutritional issues and eating behaviours among university students: a narrative review, Nutr. Res. Rev. (2024) 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954422424000088.

[16] S. Bouchefra, S. El Ghouddany, K. Ouali, A. Bour, Is good dietary diversity a predictor of academic success?, Acta Bio Medica Atenei Parm. 94 (2023) e2023014. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v94i2.13940.

[17] Guidelines for measuring household and individual dietary diversity. https://www.fao.org/fsnforum/resources/trainings-tools-and-databases/guidelines-measuring-household-and-individual-dietary (accessed January 16, 2025).

[18] C. Thompson, H.A. Vidgen, D. Gallegos, M. Hannan-Jones, Validation of a revised General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Australia, Public Health Nutr. 24 (n.d.) 1608–1618. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019005135.

[19] Rapport des résultats de l’Enquête Nationale sur le Niveau de Vie des Ménages 2022-2023 (version Fr) retreived from https://www.hcp.ma/Rapport-des-resultats-de-l-Enquete-Nationale-sur-le-Niveau-de-Vie-des-Menages-2022-2023_a4062.html (Accessed 21March 2025)

[20] Facts about Ibn Tofail University retreived from https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/ibn-tofail-university(Accessed 21March 2025)

[21] A.M. Al-Qahtani, Lifestyle habits among Najran University students, Najran, Saudi Arabia, Front. Public Health 10 (2022) 938062. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.938062.

[22] V. NICOLA, Q. CECILIA, F. ELISA, F. ELEONORA, M. GABRIELE, N. NANTE, University students in Central Italy: do they follow proper dietary habits?, J. Prev. Med. Hyg. 65 (2024) E117–E124. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2024.65.2.3194.

[23] F. Bernier-Bergeron, Habitudes alimentaires et risque cardiométabolique au cours d’une année universitaire, (2018).

[24] W.L. Cheah, E.C.V. Shin, H. Hazmi, Examining gender difference in disordered eating behaviour and its associated factors among college and university students in Sarawak, Nutr. Health 30 (2024) 587–595. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060221132597.

[25] Y.-F. Zhao, M.X.C. Yin, M.-Y. Huang, X.-Y. Chen, The effectiveness of randomized controlled psychosocial interventions on body image among nonclinical women: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Body Image 52 (2025) 101843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101843.

[26] M. Calle, E. Fondell, School-Based Eating Interventions—Are Students Eating Healthily?, Nutrients 16 (2024) 3081. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183081.

[27] M.A. Downing, M.O. Bazzi, M.E. Vinicky, N.V. Lampasona, O. Tsvyetayev, H.N. Mayrovitz, Dietary views and habits of students in health professional vs. non-health professional graduate programs in a single university, J. Osteopath. Med. 121 (2021) 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1515/jom-2020-0178.

[28] M. Hartman‐Petrycka, A. Lebiedowska, M. Kamińska, et al. Who likes meat, fish, and seafood? Influence of sex, age, body mass index, smoking, and olfactory efficiency on meat product preferences, Food Sci. Nutr. 12 (2024) 6799–6809. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.4275.

[29] E. Sandri, E. Cantín Larumbe, M. Capoferri, G. Cerdá Olmedo, L.U. Werner, M.J. Vega-Bello, Socio-demographic determinants of dietary choices and their impact on health in Spanish adults, Front. Public Health 12 (2024) 1417925. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1417925.

[30] A. Gourmelen, 7. Améliorer les comportements alimentaires des étudiants: quels enjeux pour les pouvoirs publics?, in: Que Manger, La Découverte, 2017: pp. 117–135.

[31] M.S. Nebel-Schwalm, Family pressure and support on young adults’ eating behaviors and body image: The role of gender, Appetite 196 (2024) 107262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107262.

[32] S. Boudreau, A. Rhéaume, Estime de soi, facteurs socioculturels et troubles alimentaires: Une étude corrélationnelle prédictive auprès d’étudiants universitaires canadiens en sciences de la santé, Rev. Francoph. Int. Rech. Infirm. 8 (2022) 100266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.refiri.2022.100266.

[33] A. Egolf, M. Siegrist, C. Hartmann, How people’s food disgust sensitivity shapes their eating and food behaviour, Appetite 127 (2018) 28–36.

[34] L. Prapkree, R. Uddin, J.A.A. Jaafar, M. Baghdadi, C. Coccia, F. Huffman, C. Palacios, Snacking behavior is associated with snack quality, overall diet quality, and body weight among US college students, Nutr. Res. 114 (2023) 41–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2023.04.005.

[35] E. Llanaj, R. Ádány, C. Lachat, M. D’Haese, Examining food intake and eating out of home patterns among university students, PLoS One 13 (2018) e0197874. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pone.0197874.

[36] M. Aceves-Martins, P. Denton, B. de Roos, Ready meals, especially those that are animal-based and cooked in an oven, have lower nutritional quality and higher greenhouse gas emissions and are more expensive than equivalent home-cooked meals, Public Health Nutr. 26 (2023) 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023000034.

[37] J.A. Watanabe, J.A. Nieto, T. Suarez-Diéguez, M. Silva, Influence of culinary skills on ultraprocessed food consumption and Mediterranean diet adherence: An integrative review, Nutrition 121 (2024) 112354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2024.112354.

[38] A. Calvillo Buffington, J. Norze, Differences in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Attitudes and Preferences by Gender and Grade Among Second and Third-Grade Elementary School Students, J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 121 (2021) A77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.06.203.

[39] A.K. Kant, B.I. Graubard, 40-year trends in meal and snack eating behaviors of American adults, J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 115 (2015) 50–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.06.354.

[40] T. Kaewpradup, M. Tangmongkhonsuk, C. Chusak, M. Siervo, S. Adisakwattana, Examining Sociodemographic Factors, Reasons, and Barriers in the Diversity of Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Undergraduate Students, Nutrients 16 (2024) 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060779.

[41] A. Bouhoudan, Z. Zian, M. Khaddor, N. Mourabit, The impact of societal changes and COVID-19 pandemic on Moroccan food habits: a Mediterranean perspective, Discov. Food 4 (2024) 154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00237-x.

[42] L. Arrazat, S. Nicklaus, B. de Lauzon-Guillain, L. Marty, Behavioural determinants of healthy and environmentally friendly diets in French university students, Appetite (2024) 107532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2024.107532.

[43] H. Muzaffar, B. Maitland, Scoping Review of Nutrition Education Programs for Middle Schoolers to Improve Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behavior, J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 124 (2024) A35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.07.042.

[44] L. Ferbos, Étudiants et alimentation : quand la volonté d’engagement se heurte aux difficultés quotidiennes, Univ. Sorbonne Paris Nord (2024). https://www.univ-spn.fr/etudiants-et-alimentation-quand-la-volonte-dengagement-se-heurte-aux-difficultes-quotidiennes/ (accessed January 6, 2025).

[45] E. Harrington, K. Parsons, L. Neptune, C. Winn, E. Watras, K. Raymond, W. Zhou, M. Barr, J. McNamara, Cooking Self-efficacy Predicts Diet Quality in College Students, J. Acad. Nutr. Diet. 123 (2023) A59.

[46] S. Mendez, J. Kubota, A.M. Widaman, J. Gieng, Advance quantity meal preparation pilot program improves home-cooked meal consumption, cooking attitudes, and self-efficacy, J. Nutr. Educ. Behav. 53 (2021) 608–613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2020.12.014.

[47] A. Ech-Chaouy, S. Bouchefra, M. Rahmaoui, S. Khal-Layoun, A. Bour, Assessing the impact of integrated nutrition education within life sciences on eating behavior among school- aged Moroccan adolescents: A study of construct validity for a measurement instrument, Edelweiss Appl. Sci. Technol. 9 (2025) 116–136. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i3.5150.

[48] A.-M. Duchesne, Étude des liens entre la motivation à l’alimentation et à l’activité physique, l’alimentation, l’activité physique et la santé mentale chez les étudiants universitaires, (2022).