Lifestyle Habits and Nutritional Status of Undergraduate Students at Kenyatta University, Nairobi City County, Kenya

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dc.contributor.advisorJudith Waudoen_US
dc.contributor.advisorJoseph Kobiaen_US
dc.contributor.authorNdung’u, Joseph Mburu
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-02T09:23:31Z
dc.date.available2024-02-02T09:23:31Z
dc.date.issued2023-09
dc.descriptionA Research Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Master of Science (Foods, Nutrition & Dietetics) in the School of Health Sciences of Kenyatta University, September 2023.en_US
dc.description.abstractSince 1975, the prevalence of obesity has nearly tripled. About 39% of adults worldwide (1.9 billion) were overweight and obese by the year 2016. Lifestyle habits such as eating habits, physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake and sleep duration have been associated with obesity. The transition from secondary to tertiary education comes with increased liberty and choices in lifestyle habits. The study’s purpose was to establish a relationship between demographic, socio-economic status, and lifestyle habits on the nutritional status of undergraduate students at Kenyatta University in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study design was cross-sectional analytical while the study location was Kenyatta University. The sample population was 260 students drawn from 17 schools. Data was collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 24.0. About 249 respondents participated in the study. About 79.9%, 8%, and 12% had neutral eating habits, unhealthy eating habits and healthy eating habits. Just under a quarter (24.1%) of the respondents were physically active while 75.9% were physically inactive. A low prevalence of tobacco smoking was reported. All smokers were light smokers. The average sleep duration was 7.88 ± 1.308 hours per day. About, 56.6%, 28.1% and 15.3% reported they sleep between 7-8 hours, ≥9 hours and <7 hours of sleep per day. Close to a third (31.3%) reported alcohol intake. Based on drinks per occasion, 73.1 and 26.9% of the alcohol users were moderate and binge alcohol users respectively. Based on Body Mass Index, 8.4%, 67.5%, 16.5% and 7.6% of the respondents were underweight, normal, overweight and obese respectively. However, based on Waist Circumference, 21.7% had abdominal obesity while 78.3% had no abdominal obesity. There was a significant relationship between residential status and eating habits. Only sex and age showed a significant relationship with smoking status. Significant associations between demographic and socio-economic characteristics were reported. Advanced age, fourth year of study and source of meals were significantly associated with BMI. Only sex, year of study and residence status were significantly associated with Waist Circumference. Associations between lifestyle habits and nutritional status, consumption of fast foods was significantly associated with Furthermore, mean eating habits scores had a significant association with waist circumference. The study findings showed that more males than females engaged in harmful alcohol intake and smoked tobacco while more females than males were physically inactive and reported higher BMI and waist circumference. These findings can be used to inform gender- specific strategies and interventions to prevent smoking, harmful alcohol intake, physical inactivity, overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity. Studies on physical activity and nutritional status using objective methods of assessing physical activities should be conducted.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/27458
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.subjectLifestyle Habits and Nutritional Statusen_US
dc.subjectUndergraduate Studentsen_US
dc.subjectKenyatta Universityen_US
dc.subjectNairobi City Countyen_US
dc.subjectKenyaen_US
dc.titleLifestyle Habits and Nutritional Status of Undergraduate Students at Kenyatta University, Nairobi City County, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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