Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences

Judith Nmor; Kehi Harry Nwaka; Jephtha Christopher Nmor

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences

Judith Nmor, Kehi Harry Nwaka, Jephtha Christopher Nmor

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 1)

Received: 17 November 2013 Published: 20 December 2013

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Abstract

Imbalance diet has health implications, thus understanding the correlates of dietary habits are essential. This study seeks to investigate the eating behaviors of university students in relation to body mass index differences with the view to determine the relationship between these habits and BMI status. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors and personality traits were determined in a sample of university students from Southern Nigeria. The participants, 108 students (48.15% male and 51.85% female), aged 24.1±4.1 filled out a self-reported questionnaire. The present study revealed that the mean factor structure scores in the underweight, normal weight and overweight students appear to be similar but no significant difference was found with respect to weight status. In the overweight category, anxiety showed significant positive associated with sleeping hour per night (r = 0.36) and also a negative correlation with sleeping condition (r = - 0.36). Furthermore, emotional eating and personal interest in food was negatively correlated with snacking for all weight categories but the association was strongest for underweight students (r = -0.81), followed by the overweight students (r = -0.35). Another interesting finding was the strong negative relationship between anxiety and eating of breakfast observed only in the underweight students (r = -0.65). The results indicate that the same practices can have different effects depending on the BMI of the subject, suggesting that is important to disentangle the subscales of dietary practices. Personality traits showed no significant relationship with BMI, additional research is needed to clearly understand the modulating factors.

Published in	Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
Page(s)	38-46
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Weight Status, Eating Behaviors, University Students, Body Mass Index Differences, Nigeria

References

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APA Style

Judith Nmor, Kehi Harry Nwaka, Jephtha Christopher Nmor. (2013). Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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ACS Style

Judith Nmor; Kehi Harry Nwaka; Jephtha Christopher Nmor. Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 2(1), 38-46. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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AMA Style

Judith Nmor, Kehi Harry Nwaka, Jephtha Christopher Nmor. Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Sci J Public Health. 2013;2(1):38-46. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15,
  author = {Judith Nmor and Kehi Harry Nwaka and Jephtha Christopher Nmor},
  title = {Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {38-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140201.15},
  abstract = {Imbalance diet has health implications, thus understanding the correlates of dietary habits are essential. This study seeks to investigate the eating behaviors of university students in relation to body mass index differences with the view to determine the relationship between these habits and BMI status. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors and personality traits were determined in a sample of university students from Southern Nigeria. The participants, 108 students (48.15% male and 51.85% female), aged 24.1±4.1 filled out a self-reported questionnaire. The present study revealed that the mean factor structure scores in the underweight, normal weight and overweight students appear to be similar but no significant difference was found with respect to weight status. In the overweight category, anxiety showed significant positive associated with sleeping hour per night (r = 0.36) and also a negative correlation with sleeping condition (r = - 0.36). Furthermore, emotional eating and personal interest in food was negatively correlated with snacking for all weight categories but the association was strongest for underweight students (r = -0.81), followed by the overweight students (r = -0.35). Another interesting finding was the strong negative relationship between anxiety and eating of breakfast observed only in the underweight students (r = -0.65). The results indicate that the same practices can have different effects depending on the BMI of the subject, suggesting that is important to disentangle the subscales of dietary practices. Personality traits showed no significant relationship with BMI, additional research is needed to clearly understand the modulating factors.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences
AU  - Judith Nmor
AU  - Kehi Harry Nwaka
AU  - Jephtha Christopher Nmor
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 38
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
AB  - Imbalance diet has health implications, thus understanding the correlates of dietary habits are essential. This study seeks to investigate the eating behaviors of university students in relation to body mass index differences with the view to determine the relationship between these habits and BMI status. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors and personality traits were determined in a sample of university students from Southern Nigeria. The participants, 108 students (48.15% male and 51.85% female), aged 24.1±4.1 filled out a self-reported questionnaire. The present study revealed that the mean factor structure scores in the underweight, normal weight and overweight students appear to be similar but no significant difference was found with respect to weight status. In the overweight category, anxiety showed significant positive associated with sleeping hour per night (r = 0.36) and also a negative correlation with sleeping condition (r = - 0.36). Furthermore, emotional eating and personal interest in food was negatively correlated with snacking for all weight categories but the association was strongest for underweight students (r = -0.81), followed by the overweight students (r = -0.35). Another interesting finding was the strong negative relationship between anxiety and eating of breakfast observed only in the underweight students (r = -0.65). The results indicate that the same practices can have different effects depending on the BMI of the subject, suggesting that is important to disentangle the subscales of dietary practices. Personality traits showed no significant relationship with BMI, additional research is needed to clearly understand the modulating factors.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Judith Nmor

Department of Nutrition Sciences, Siebold University, Nagasaki, Japan (formerly)
Kehi Harry Nwaka

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Jephtha Christopher Nmor

Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

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APA Style

Judith Nmor, Kehi Harry Nwaka, Jephtha Christopher Nmor. (2013). Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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ACS Style

Judith Nmor; Kehi Harry Nwaka; Jephtha Christopher Nmor. Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Sci. J. Public Health 2013, 2(1), 38-46. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

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AMA Style

Judith Nmor, Kehi Harry Nwaka, Jephtha Christopher Nmor. Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences. Sci J Public Health. 2013;2(1):38-46. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15,
  author = {Judith Nmor and Kehi Harry Nwaka and Jephtha Christopher Nmor},
  title = {Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {38-46},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140201.15},
  abstract = {Imbalance diet has health implications, thus understanding the correlates of dietary habits are essential. This study seeks to investigate the eating behaviors of university students in relation to body mass index differences with the view to determine the relationship between these habits and BMI status. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors and personality traits were determined in a sample of university students from Southern Nigeria. The participants, 108 students (48.15% male and 51.85% female), aged 24.1±4.1 filled out a self-reported questionnaire. The present study revealed that the mean factor structure scores in the underweight, normal weight and overweight students appear to be similar but no significant difference was found with respect to weight status. In the overweight category, anxiety showed significant positive associated with sleeping hour per night (r = 0.36) and also a negative correlation with sleeping condition (r = - 0.36). Furthermore, emotional eating and personal interest in food was negatively correlated with snacking for all weight categories but the association was strongest for underweight students (r = -0.81), followed by the overweight students (r = -0.35). Another interesting finding was the strong negative relationship between anxiety and eating of breakfast observed only in the underweight students (r = -0.65). The results indicate that the same practices can have different effects depending on the BMI of the subject, suggesting that is important to disentangle the subscales of dietary practices. Personality traits showed no significant relationship with BMI, additional research is needed to clearly understand the modulating factors.},
 year = {2013}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Does Eating Behaviors among University Students in Nigeria Differ Based on Body Mass Index Differences
AU  - Judith Nmor
AU  - Kehi Harry Nwaka
AU  - Jephtha Christopher Nmor
Y1  - 2013/12/20
PY  - 2013
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
SP  - 38
EP  - 46
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7950
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140201.15
AB  - Imbalance diet has health implications, thus understanding the correlates of dietary habits are essential. This study seeks to investigate the eating behaviors of university students in relation to body mass index differences with the view to determine the relationship between these habits and BMI status. Anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors and personality traits were determined in a sample of university students from Southern Nigeria. The participants, 108 students (48.15% male and 51.85% female), aged 24.1±4.1 filled out a self-reported questionnaire. The present study revealed that the mean factor structure scores in the underweight, normal weight and overweight students appear to be similar but no significant difference was found with respect to weight status. In the overweight category, anxiety showed significant positive associated with sleeping hour per night (r = 0.36) and also a negative correlation with sleeping condition (r = - 0.36). Furthermore, emotional eating and personal interest in food was negatively correlated with snacking for all weight categories but the association was strongest for underweight students (r = -0.81), followed by the overweight students (r = -0.35). Another interesting finding was the strong negative relationship between anxiety and eating of breakfast observed only in the underweight students (r = -0.65). The results indicate that the same practices can have different effects depending on the BMI of the subject, suggesting that is important to disentangle the subscales of dietary practices. Personality traits showed no significant relationship with BMI, additional research is needed to clearly understand the modulating factors.
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download