A STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS, LIFE STYLE AND HEALTH PROFILE OF FOOD AND PROCESS ENGINEERING STUDENTS OF HSTU, DINAJPUR

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the nutritional status, life style and health profile of 80 students of Food and Process Engineering, students of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur. Out of 80 students 52 male and 28 female students participated in the study. Considering male and female students, twenty (20) students were randomly selected from each level. The socio-economic status, nutritional status, general food habit, daily average energy expenditure, life style, general health information, nutritional knowledge, cooking and hygienic data were collected from individual students. Out of 80 students, 38 (47.5%) students’ age lies between 21-22 years. Majority of the students’ (80.0%) religion were Islam. About 33% students’ father/family head were service holder and 20% were farmer by profession. Again 44% students’ monthly family income lies between Tk. 13000 to Tk. 20000. Most of the students’ families (78.8%) lived in their own house. Average monthly expenditure or amount of money taken from their family was Tk. 3971.38. Nutritional status of the students was measured by Body Mass Index (BMI) in this study. Most of the students (78.8%) were in normal range and students of level IV were more conscious of their health. The result showed that the students whose monthly expenditure was high possess good health. The daily average energy expenditure of a student was 2246.35 kcal and the daily average energy expenditure of male students was higher than that of female students. Except cereals, vegetables, potato, oil, fish, meats, pulse, egg, milk and fruits were less consumed by the students. The health status data showed that the health condition of the undergraduate students was not satisfactory. Again it was found that the undergraduate students did not have complete nutritional knowledge still then and cooking habit and hygienic status of the female students were superior to that of the male students.