Dietary Intake and Habits of Female Students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Improving the dietary intake of different groups and populations is important for improving their health status. Therefore، the aim of this study was to determine the nutrients and food group intake، and dietary habits of female students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences، Isfahan، Iran. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 289 healthy female university students. They were selected from students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences by the systematic random cluster sampling method. Usual dietary intake was estimated by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. For assessing the dietary habits a separate questionnaire was used. Mean age of the participants was 21 ± 7 years. The mean of body mass index (BMI) was 25. 9 ± 5. 1 kg/m2. The mean of low fat dairy and high fat dairy intake was، respectively، 1. 3 ± 0. 11 and 1. 3 ± 0. 16 servings per day. Daily whole grain intake was only 1. 0 ± 0. 2 servings while refined grain intake was 6. 0 ± 1. 2 servings per day. The fruit and vegetable intake was 2. 2 ± 0. 4 and 3. 2 ± 1. 0 servings per day. Folate، iron، calcium، and fiber intake were lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) amounts (70%، 76%، 90%، and 56% of RDA، respectively). 45% of the population consumed fast foods 2 times a week. 35% used frying oils for cooking most of the time. 52% of the students skipped breakfast. The dietary habits of the study population need to be improved. Paying attention to the intake of micronutrients including folate، iron، dairy products، and dietary fiber in this group is especially important.