Nutritional knowledge and eating attitudes and habits in higher education

Abstract

Eating habits involve behavioural predispositions related to intra and interpersonal factors, which include nutritional knowledge and attitudes towards the consumption of certain types of food. This study includes a systematic review of studies on knowledge, attitudes and eating habits of college students, which included declared criteria of eligibility. In general, to measure eating habits, it is proposed that questions be asked regarding the daily frequency of consumption of fruits, vegetables, fast foods and foods with sugar. Scales of attitudes towards food should include items about the ability to understand nutritional recommendations and food labels. The scales of knowledge about food, it is proposed the use of items related to the presence of nutrients in certain foods. The current review, 1) provides guidelines for the construction of standardized measurement scales related to knowledge, attitudes and eating habits. And, 2) the main results presented can help in the elaboration of programs of education and promotion of healthy eating in the university.