Eating habits and Nutritional status among the Bangladeshi Medical Students Depending upon BMI

Background : Eating habit have been a major concern among undergraduate medical students as a determinant of health status. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of eating habits and its associated with social and psychological factors among medical students in Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Material and Method : A cross sectional descriptive type of study was conducted among 107 randomly selected. Medical student from east-west Medical College and Hospital Dhaka Bangladesh. Data collected by interviewing on socio-demography, anthropometry, eating habits and psychosocial factors. Result : Mean (±SD) of the respondents was 21.19 (±1.9) and the age ranged from 17 to 26 years. Maximum respondents were 19 yrs (21.5%) more than half had regular breakfast and meal (70.1%) and 81.3% respectively). Majority (58.9%) consumed fruits one to twice per weak 50.5% had fast food once a week and 51.4% drank water 2 liters daily. 33.6% eat vegetable once or twice weak. Conclusion : Most of the students in this study had healthy eating habits. Social and psychological factors were important determinants of eating habit among medical students.


Introduction:
Poor eating habit is a major public health concern among young adult who experienced transition into university life 1 , during which they are exposed to stress and lack of time . 2,3 ome common unhealthy eating patterns among young adults included meal skipping, eating away 4.5 from home, Snacking and fast food consumption, Environmental factors also contribute to adoption of unhealthy eating habits university students.The mushrooming of shopping malls, convenience stores and fast food outlets have created an alarming situation for young adults to practice unhealthy eating habits 7 .Students tend to make their own food choice. 8ased on cost of food and availability of fast food. 9They failed to meet the recommended intakes of fruits and vegetable. 10 11Students had frequent snacking habits 12 and higher frequency of fast food consumption. 13 was faunal that although medical students had sufficient knowledge regarding good dietary habits, they failed to apply this knowledge into practice. 2stress of medical study load would be factors that negatively influence their diet. 14

Material & Methods :
The present cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in East-West Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh.The study population consist of 107 Medical student studying different year of that medical college.Data were colleted with structured pre-tested questionnaire.Prior to the study question fill-up every participant were explain the purpose of the study.

Result :
Following tables are showing the findings of this study The distribution of BMI showed highest frequency with in normal range (44.9%).The ratio of male and female were equal.

77.6% eat because of feeling happy Discussion
Regarding gender maximum respondents are female (50.5%) than male (49%).It is due to more female student admission into this college.Regarding religion maximum respondents are Islam (84.1%).It si due to Islamic country.Regarding parents income of the respondent majority have income within 50000 -100000 (57.9%) take/month.It is also consistent as it is a private medical college and so most students parent income are come from medium/high socioeconomic condition.Regarding are age maximum respondents are 19 years of age (21.5%).This is very common as it is the actual age of beginner medical students that is 1 st and 2 nd years of medical education.
Regarding of BMI maximum respondents are with in normal range (18.5 -24.99) (44.9%).Here male and female number is equal (24).This is also similar to other study shows (53.0%) are with in normal range 15 .
Regular break fast consumption among medical students is important for sufficient energy intake to over come fatigue due to daily learning schedule 16 .In this study (70.1%) respondents had break fast had breakfast daily.Other two study shows (75.6%) and (43.9%) of the subject eat breakfast every day 15 17 .
In this study 81.3% had regular meal.On the other hand a Chinese study in which 83.6% of university students consumed regular meals 18 .
Other study shows that (57.6%) had regular meal 15 .Another study reported that 61.4% of Lebanese university students had regular meals daily 19 .Again Ruka's research showed that majority of the students (83.6%) eat three meals of the day regularly 18 (40.2%)shows regularly 3 times other study 15 .In our study (54.2%) take meal thrice daily.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are known rich sources of dietary fibers minerals and vitamins.The majority of the respondents in the study consumed vegetable (33.6%) once or twice per week.Other study showed that the frequency of consumed vegetable was about (81.8%) frequently 15 .This finding way high in comparison to previous studies from china (47.9%) 18 and Bahrain (26.3%) 21.How ever one study from Malaysia found that only 19% of university students consumed vegetable more then 3 times per week 9 .
In this study 58.9% respondent eat fruits once to twice per week which a study shows (6.8%) eat fruit only once or twice a week 17 .and 62.1%of the subject eat fruit every day 16 .
The frequent consumption of snacks and light meals is recognizable aspect of teenager's food & behaviors.This study shows (51.4%) had weekly consumption of snacks.
Other Lebanon study showed that only (53.0%) of respondents had snacking consumed regularly 12 other (42.4%) of respondents had snacking at least three times pen week 12 .
In this study (51.4%) had taken water 2 liter daily.On the Other hand other study shows water intake <2 liter (59.8%) and ≥ 2 liter (40.2%) 17 .50.5% do exercise rarely on the other hand (59.8%) intake water daily 15 .In terms of eating habit the typical university student diet is high in fat and low in fruits and vegetable. 22udents of ten select fast food due to it palatability availability and convenience 12 .
In this study (54%) taking fast food once a week other study shows (78.8%) 15 consumption of fast food rarely.One study found only (21.2%) of the respondents consumed fast food often 15 .Chin and Nasir (2009) reported that only (4.7%) of respondents visited fast food restaurants frequently 23 .

Conclusion:-
In general most of the students in this study had healthy eating habits except fruit and vegetable consumption.Social and Psychological factors were important determinants of eating habits among medical students Nutritional education among medical students should be encouraged to promote healthier eating habits and life styles, as well as adherence to the healthier traditional food.It is recommended that the scope of future research should be broadened to include a larger representative sample size of medical students by including students from different medical colleges from all Bangladesh.

Table 1 :
Socio demographic characteristics of the respondents (N= 107)

Table : 2
Distribution of BMI by men and women

Table 4 :
Psychological factors affecting respondents eating habits among respondents n-107