Differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and body mass index among university students in Beijing, China
ISSN: 0007-070X
Article publication date: 16 August 2019
Issue publication date: 4 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The transition from high school to university poses many challenges for university students including dietary behaviors’ change and subsequent obesity risk. More tailored interventions and promotions to establish a healthier eating habit are needed to reduce obesity risks. The purpose of this paper is to investigate food intake differences on obesity risk among university students in China through exploring the differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and body mass index (BMI).
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional study was carried in five universities which were randomly selected in all the universities located in different geographical areas of Beijing, China. The sample consisted of 631 university students whom aged from 18 to 25 years. t-tests and one-way ANOVA tests were used to find differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and BMI.
Findings
Having more consumption of food with high protein, high fat and high sugar, but less consumption of fruits and vegetables, may give university students a greater chance to be obese, and food intakes were significantly varied in different genders among Chinese university students.
Originality/value
There is a lack of evidence for investigating the differences of food intakes with gender on obesity among young adults in China. Findings of this study indicated that the food intakes of male students might make them more prone to obesity than female students, and suggested more tailored interventions, food marketing strategies and promotions on controlling students’ food intakes for a healthier life are needed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Beijing University of Agriculture and all participants in this study. Thanks to Zhaotong Wang, Jiaxun Hu, Ni Zhen, Yunping Cao, Tianqing Zhang, Mengxue Lu, Yixin Wang, Ming Cui, Jiayi Li and Xinyang Zuo who helped with data collection. Many thanks to the Support Project of High-level Teachers in Beijing Municipal Universities in the Period of 13th Five-year Plan (Project No. 067175315000).
Citation
Cheng, L. and Liu, Z. (2019), "Differences of food intakes with gender, the year in college and body mass index among university students in Beijing, China", British Food Journal, Vol. 121 No. 10, pp. 2524-2534. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2019-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited