Project – Nutrition Knowledge, Meal-Skipping Behaviour and Dietary Diversity among Female Undergraduates: A Study of Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Nutrition is an essential component of human health and development because the quality and quantity of food consumed by an individual influence physical growth, cognitive functioning, immunity, productivity and general well-being. The period of university education represents an important stage in the transition from adolescence to adulthood, during which students increasingly become responsible for making independent decisions about their food choices and eating patterns. At this stage, students may experience changes in residence, income, academic workload, social relationships and access to food, all of which can influence their nutritional practices. The World Health Organization emphasizes that a healthy diet should provide adequate, balanced, moderate, diverse and safe foods, with regular consumption of nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and appropriate sources of animal or plant protein. Poor dietary practices during young adulthood can contribute to both undernutrition and overnutrition and may establish eating patterns that persist into later life (World Health Organization [WHO], 2026).

Nutrition knowledge is an important factor that can influence food choices because individuals need adequate understanding of nutrients, food groups, balanced diets, portion sizes and healthy eating practices to make informed dietary decisions. However, knowledge alone does not always translate into appropriate dietary behaviour because food choices are also influenced by income, availability, convenience, culture, taste, peer influence and personal preferences. This issue is particularly relevant among university students who may have limited financial resources and considerable academic and social demands. A study by Okafor, Nwazojie and Afiaenyi (2018) among 500 female undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, found that nutrition knowledge and food habits were important nutritional considerations among the respondents. The researchers assessed nutrition knowledge alongside anthropometric and haematological indicators, demonstrating the relevance of nutritional knowledge to the health of female university students. Their findings provide a strong local basis for further examining nutrition knowledge and dietary practices among female students at the same institution.

Female undergraduates deserve particular attention because women of reproductive age have nutritional requirements that are important for maintaining their own health and for future reproductive outcomes. Adequate intake of iron, folate, calcium, protein, vitamins and other essential nutrients is necessary for normal physiological functioning. Dietary diversity is particularly important because no single food can provide all the nutrients required for a healthy life. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) developed the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) indicator as a simple food-based measure of dietary diversity among women aged 15–49 years. The indicator considers whether a woman consumed foods from at least five of ten specified food groups during the previous 24 hours, with attainment of the minimum diversity threshold associated with a greater likelihood of adequate micronutrient intake. Thus, examining dietary diversity among female undergraduates can provide useful information about the nutritional quality and variety of their diets (FAO, 2021).

Meal-skipping behaviour constitutes another important aspect of students’ dietary practices. Meal skipping occurs when an individual deliberately or unintentionally omits one of the main meals normally consumed during the day, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Among university students, meal skipping may arise from academic schedules, early morning lectures, late waking, financial constraints, lack of convenient food, dieting practices, body-image concerns, inadequate cooking facilities or simply personal preference. Evidence from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka has specifically demonstrated that breakfast skipping is an issue among undergraduate students. Anowai, Chukwuone and Ogbonnaya (2022) examined breakfast meal-skipping practices among undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and investigated the rate, causes and possible strategies for improving breakfast consumption. Similarly, Omage and Omuemu (2018), in a study of 800 undergraduate students in a private university in Southern Nigeria, reported that 56.0% skipped breakfast, while breakfast skipping was significantly more common among female respondents than male respondents.

The consequences of meal skipping may extend beyond simply reducing the number of meals consumed in a day. Students who miss regular meals may compensate by eating snacks or highly convenient foods that may not provide adequate quantities and varieties of essential nutrients. Omage and Omuemu (2018) found that 76.0% of their respondents ate between meals and 93.0% consumed snacks, while only 49.0% of the respondents had high dietary diversity and 26.5% had low dietary diversity. These findings indicate that meal patterns, snacking behaviour and dietary diversity can coexist as important components of the nutritional experiences of university students. More recent Nigerian evidence has also continued to identify meal skipping as a health-related concern among undergraduates, with researchers noting that irregular meal patterns may be associated with poor dietary choices and nutritional problems (Sholeye, Omisore, & Animasahun, 2024). Consequently, understanding why female undergraduates skip meals and how such behaviour relates to the variety of foods they consume is important for promoting healthier university lifestyles.

Dietary diversity is an important dimension of diet quality because a diverse diet increases the possibility of obtaining a broad range of essential nutrients from different food groups. The FAO explains that dietary diversity captures one important aspect of diet quality and that consumption of a wider variety of foods increases the likelihood that nutrient requirements will be met. Nigerian studies have shown that dietary diversity among university students is not uniformly adequate. In Southern Nigeria, Omage and Omuemu (2018) reported that 49.0% of undergraduate respondents had high dietary diversity while 26.5% had low dietary diversity, with female students recording a lower proportion of high dietary diversity than male students. Similarly, a study of female students in public universities in Akwa Ibom State found that only about 55% of respondents were classified as dietary diverse, indicating that a considerable proportion of female university students may have diets that lack sufficient variety (FAO, 2021; Udo et al., 2020). These findings demonstrate the need to assess dietary diversity specifically among female undergraduates in different university environments.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka provides a particularly relevant context for examining these issues because previous research has already identified nutrition-related concerns among its female undergraduate population. Okafor et al. (2018) studied 500 female undergraduate students selected from four faculties of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and assessed their nutrition knowledge, food habits, anthropometric measurements and haematological indices. The existence of this previous evidence demonstrates that nutritional knowledge and eating practices are relevant health issues among female students at the institution. At the same time, research specifically examining breakfast skipping among UNN undergraduates has demonstrated that the omission of an important daily meal is also a recognizable behavioural issue within the university setting. Despite these separate studies, there remains a need to bring nutrition knowledge, meal-skipping behaviour and dietary diversity together in a single investigation focused specifically on female undergraduates (Okafor et al., 2018; Anowai et al., 2022).

The relationship among nutrition knowledge, meal-skipping behaviour and dietary diversity therefore deserves systematic investigation among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Existing evidence provides useful information about nutrition knowledge among UNN female students and about breakfast skipping among UNN undergraduates, while studies from other Nigerian universities demonstrate concerns relating to meal patterns and dietary diversity. However, these variables have not been sufficiently examined together within the specific population of female undergraduates at UNN. Understanding whether students with better nutrition knowledge are more likely to consume regular meals and maintain more diverse diets may help identify areas where nutrition education can be strengthened. Such evidence could assist university health services, nutritionists, health educators, student affairs administrators and other stakeholders in developing practical interventions that promote regular meal consumption and diversified diets among female students (Okafor et al., 2018; FAO, 2021; Omage & Omuemu, 2018).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

University students are expected to maintain dietary practices that support their academic activities, physical health and general well-being, yet evidence from Nigerian universities suggests that irregular eating and meal skipping are common among students. Breakfast, which is frequently regarded as an important component of a regular daily meal pattern, is often omitted by undergraduates because of academic schedules, late waking, financial difficulties and other personal or environmental factors. Research conducted among undergraduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka specifically examined breakfast meal skipping, indicating that the behaviour exists within the university population. Similarly, Omage and Omuemu (2018) found that more than half of the undergraduate respondents in their Southern Nigerian study skipped breakfast, with female students demonstrating a higher prevalence than male students. The persistence of such behaviour raises concerns about whether female undergraduates are consistently meeting their nutritional requirements through regular and adequate meals.

The problem becomes more important when viewed from the perspective of female nutritional vulnerability. Female students require adequate amounts of essential nutrients for normal growth, physiological functioning and maintenance of health, yet inadequate dietary practices can reduce the likelihood of achieving nutritional adequacy. Evidence from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka already indicates nutritional concerns among female undergraduates. Okafor et al. (2018), in their study involving 500 female students, examined nutrition knowledge, food habits, anthropometric measurements and haematological indices, thereby demonstrating that nutrition-related factors are relevant to the health of this population. In addition, studies among Nigerian undergraduates have reported low dietary diversity among some students, while research among female university students in Akwa Ibom State found that a substantial proportion did not meet the study’s dietary diversity criterion. These findings suggest that female students may face nutritional challenges arising from both what they know about nutrition and what they actually consume (Okafor et al., 2018; Udo et al., 2020).

Another important concern is the possible interaction between meal skipping and dietary diversity. A student who frequently misses breakfast, lunch or dinner may compensate by consuming snacks, convenience foods or repetitive staple-based meals rather than consuming foods from a broad range of food groups. This may result in inadequate dietary variety even when the student consumes enough calories to avoid obvious signs of undernutrition. Omage and Omuemu (2018) reported that breakfast skipping and snacking were common among undergraduate students and that more than one-quarter of respondents had low dietary diversity. The FAO’s MDD-W framework further emphasizes that consumption of foods from a greater variety of food groups increases the likelihood of adequate micronutrient intake among women of reproductive age. Therefore, the combination of frequent meal skipping and inadequate dietary diversity could constitute an important nutritional concern among female undergraduates and requires empirical investigation (Omage & Omuemu, 2018; FAO, 2021).

Despite existing research on nutrition knowledge, breakfast skipping and dietary diversity, there is still inadequate evidence that examines the three variables simultaneously among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The earlier UNN study by Okafor et al. (2018) focused on nutrition knowledge and factors associated with anthropometric and haematological indices, while the study by Anowai et al. focused specifically on breakfast meal-skipping practices. Studies conducted in other Nigerian universities have provided evidence concerning dietary patterns and dietary diversity, but differences in university environments, food availability, socioeconomic circumstances and student lifestyles mean that findings from other institutions cannot automatically be generalized to UNN. It is therefore necessary to determine the level of nutrition knowledge, examine the pattern of meal skipping, assess dietary diversity and investigate the relationship among these variables among female undergraduates at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The findings may provide evidence for targeted nutrition education and health-promotion strategies within the university community (Okafor et al., 2018; Anowai et al., 2022; Omage & Omuemu, 2018).

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine nutrition knowledge, meal-skipping behaviour and dietary diversity among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. determine the level of nutrition knowledge among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka;
2. examine the pattern and prevalence of meal-skipping behaviour among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka;
3. assess the level of dietary diversity among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and
4. determine the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What is the level of nutrition knowledge among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka?
2. What are the patterns of meal-skipping behaviour among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka?
3. What is the level of dietary diversity among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka?
4. What relationship exists between nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviour, including meal-skipping behaviour and dietary diversity, among female undergraduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to female undergraduate students because it will provide information about the importance of adequate nutrition, regular meal consumption and dietary variety. The findings may encourage students to assess their own eating practices and make healthier food choices.

The study will be useful to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, particularly university health services, student affairs units and relevant departments responsible for student welfare. The findings may provide evidence for the development or strengthening of nutrition education and health-promotion programmes targeted at female students.

The study will also be useful to health educators, nutritionists and dietitians. Information concerning nutrition knowledge, meal skipping and dietary diversity may assist these professionals in developing practical nutrition education programmes addressing the specific challenges faced by female undergraduates.

The findings may further benefit parents and guardians by increasing awareness of the dietary challenges that students may experience while living away from home. Such information may encourage appropriate support for students’ nutritional needs.

Finally, the study will contribute to existing academic literature on university students’ nutrition in Nigeria. It may provide a basis for future researchers who wish to investigate nutrition knowledge, meal patterns, dietary diversity, nutritional status and related health behaviours among students in other universities.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on Nutrition Knowledge, Meal-Skipping Behaviour and Dietary Diversity among Female Undergraduates: A Study of Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The study will be geographically limited to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The target population will comprise female undergraduate students of the university.

In terms of content, the study will examine students’ knowledge of basic nutrition, nutrients, food groups, balanced diets and healthy eating practices. It will also examine meal-skipping behaviour, particularly the frequency of skipping breakfast, lunch and dinner and the reasons for such behaviour. The study will further assess dietary diversity based on the different food groups consumed by respondents.

The study will focus on dietary knowledge and behaviour rather than clinical diagnosis of nutritional deficiencies. Biochemical investigations and detailed clinical assessments will therefore fall outside the primary scope of the study.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Dietary Diversity: The variety of foods or food groups consumed by an individual during a specified reference period.

Female Undergraduates: Female students enrolled in undergraduate programmes at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Meal-Skipping Behaviour: The deliberate or unintentional omission of a regular main meal such as breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Nutrition Knowledge: The level of understanding an individual possesses concerning nutrients, food groups, balanced diets, healthy eating and appropriate food choices.

Dietary Behaviour: The pattern of food-related practices through which an individual selects, consumes and organizes meals and other foods.

Dietary Diversity Score: A numerical measure representing the number of different food groups consumed by an individual during a specified reference period.

Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W): A food-group-based indicator developed by FAO to assess whether women aged 15–49 years consumed foods from at least five of ten defined food groups during the previous 24 hours.

Nutrition Education: The provision of knowledge, information and skills intended to help individuals make appropriate food choices and adopt healthy dietary practices.

Project – Nutrition Knowledge, Meal-Skipping Behaviour and Dietary Diversity among Female Undergraduates: A Study of Students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka