Anthropometric Profile and Nutritional Intake in a Tunisian Population of Medical Students
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Young students, in particular those in the medical field, seem to have poor eating habits and therefore inadequate nutritional intake. We aimed to study the anthropometric and nutritional profile of a Tunisian population of medical students.
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Medical University of Tunis between November 2019 and May 2020. It included 250 students. Each student benefited from a dietary survey and anthropometric measurements.
A female predominance was noted in 71.2% of cases. The mean BMI was 23.28 [16.01-35.67] kg/m2. Abdominal obesity was present in 30% of cases.
More than a third of the students had a hypocaloric (38.4%) or hypoglucidic (41.2%) intake. The majority (82.4%) had a high protein intake and 51.6% had a high fat intake.
Regarding micronutrients, iron deficiency was noted in more than half of the cases (55.8%). Insufficient vitamin D intake was found in two-thirds of the cases (68.8%). Dietary fiber intake was insufficient in most students (84.4%).
These results justify the need for providing nutritional education among medical students in order to preserve the physical and mental health of future caregivers.
Downloads
References
-
Phagava H, Mikaberidze A, Tavadze O, Pagava K. Peculiarities of nutrition among medical university students. Georgian Med News. 2019; 295:118-123.
Google Scholar
1
-
Bede F, Cumber SN, Nkfusai CN, Venyuy MA, Ijang YP, Wepngong EN, et al. Dietary habits and nutritional status of medical school students: the case of three state universities in Cameroon. Pan Afr Med J. 2020; 35(15).
DOI |
Google Scholar
2
-
Physical status: the use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a World Health Organization Expert Committee. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 1995; 854: 1-452.
Google Scholar
3
-
Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a World Health Organization consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2000; 894(i-xii): 1-253.
Google Scholar
4
-
Alberti KG, Zimmet P, Shaw J. Metabolic syndrome-a new world-wide definition. A Consensus Statement from the International Diabetes Federation. Diabet Med. 2006; 23(5): 469-480.
DOI |
Google Scholar
5
-
Bouchoucha M, Akrout M, Tarhouni F. Aliments tunisiens: Manuel-photos pour l’estimation des portions. Balloons communication [Tunisian foods: Photo manual for estimating portions. Communication balloons]. 1st ed; 2017.
Google Scholar
6
-
Martin A, Potier de Courcy G. Besoins nutritionnels et apports conseillés: valeurs de référence pour l’énergie, les macronutriments et les micronutriments. [Nutritional requirements and recommended intakes: reference values for energy, macronutrients and micronutrients]. EMC-Endocrinologie-Nutrition. 2018;15(1):1-24;[10-308-A-15]. French.
Google Scholar
7
-
Human energy requirements: report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Food Nutr Bull. 2005; 26(1): 166.
Google Scholar
8
-
Thibaut De Saint Pol. Comment mesurer la corpulence et le poids "idéal?: Histoires, intérêts et limites de l'Indice de masse corporelle. [How to measure stoutness and "ideal" weight: Histories, interests and limits of the Body Mass Index]. 2008. halshs-00239379. French.
Google Scholar
9
-
Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2003; 916(i-viii): 1-149.
Google Scholar
10
-
Martin A, Poitier de Courcy G. Besoins nutritionnels et apports conseillés: concepts, élaboration, utilisation. [Nutritional requirements and recommended intakes: concepts, development, use]. EMC - Endocrinologie-Nutrition. 2017; 15(1): 1-10; [10-308-A-10]. French.
Google Scholar
11
-
Shashank JK, Praveen G, Chethan TK. A crosssectional study to assess the eating disorder among female medical students in a rural medical college of Karnataka state. Natl J Community Med. 2016; 7(6): 524-527.
Google Scholar
12
-
M. Cherradi Mea. Les troubles des conduites alimentaires chez les étudiants en médecine de Marrakech [Eating disorders among marrakesh medical students]. [Thesis]. Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie Marrakech; 2018. French.
Google Scholar
13
-
Liao Y, Knoesen NP, Castle DJ, Tang J, Deng Y, Bookun R, et al. Symptoms of disordered eating, body shape, and mood concerns in male and female Chinese medical students. Compr Psychiatry. 2010; 51(5): 516-523.
DOI |
Google Scholar
14
-
Chang WW, Nie M, Kang YW, He LP, Jin YL, Yao YS. Subclinical eating disorders in female medical students in Anhui, China: a cross-sectional study. Nutr Hosp. 2015; 31(4): 1771-1777.
Google Scholar
15
-
Dissing AS, Bak NH, Pedersen LET, Petersson BH. Female medical students are estimated to have a higher risk for developing eating disorders than male medical students. Dan Med Bull. 2011; 58(1): A4207.
Google Scholar
16
-
Liao Y, Liu T, Cheng Y, Wang J, Deng Y, Hao W, et al. Changes in eating attitudes, eating disorders and body weight in Chinese medical university students. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2013; 59(6): 578-585.
DOI |
Google Scholar
17
-
Naeimi AF, Haghighian HK, Gargari BP, Alizadeh M, Rouzitalab T. Eating disorders risk and its relation to self-esteem and body image in Iranian university students of medical sciences. Eat Weight Disord. 2016; 21(4): 597-605.
DOI |
Google Scholar
18
-
Allam AR, Taha IM, Al-Nozha OM, Sultan IE. Nutritional and health status of medical students at a university in Northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2012; 33(12): 1296-1303.
Google Scholar
19
-
Glore SR, Walker C, Chandler A. Brief communication: dietary habits of first-year medical students as determined by computer software analysis of three-day food records. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993; 12(5): 517-520.
DOI |
Google Scholar
20
-
Petrescu C, Buleandră CF, Doroftei S, Vlaicu B. Nutrients in food intake of medical students, Timişoara. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2004; 108(2): 338-342. Romanian.
Google Scholar
21
-
Biró L, Rabin B, Regöly-Mérei A, Nagy K, Pintér B, Beretvás E, et al. Dietary habits of medical and pharmacy students at Semmelweis University, Budapest. Acta Aliment. 2005; 34(4): 463-471.
DOI |
Google Scholar
22
-
Fredriksson E, Brekke HK, Ellegård L. Dietary intake in Swedish medical students during 2007–2012. Scand J Public Health. 2016; 44(1): 77-83.
DOI |
Google Scholar
23
-
Bergeron N, Al-Saiegh S, Ip EJ. An Analysis of California Pharmacy and Medical students’ dietary and lifestyle practices. Am J Pharm Educ. 2017; 81(8): 5956.
DOI |
Google Scholar
24
-
Mammas I, Bertsias G, Linardakis M, Moschandreas J, Kafatos A. Nutrient intake and food consumption among medical students in Greece assessed during a Clinical Nutrition course. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2004; 55(1): 17-26.
DOI |
Google Scholar
25
-
Zellner DA, Loaiza S, Gonzalez Z, Pita J, Morales J, Pecora D, et al. Food selection changes under stress. Physiol Behav. 2006; 87(4): 789-793.
DOI |
Google Scholar
26
-
Vidal EJ, Alvarez D, Martinez-Velarde D, Vidal-Damas L, Yuncar-Rojas KA, Julca-Malca A, et al. Perceived stress and high fat intake: A study in a sample of undergraduate students. PLoS One. 2018; 13(3): e0192827.
DOI |
Google Scholar
27
-
Vibhute NA, Baad R, Belgaumi U, Kadashetti V, Bommanavar S, Kamate W. Dietary habits amongst medical students: An institution-based study. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018; 7(6): 1464-1466.
DOI |
Google Scholar
28
-
Perlstein R, McCoombe S, Macfarlane S, Bell AC, Nowson C. Nutrition practice and knowledge of first-year medical students. J Biomed Educ. 2017; 2017(6): 1-10.
DOI |
Google Scholar
29
-
Ilow R, Regulska-Ilow B, Różańska D. Dietary habits of Wroclaw Medical University students (Poland). Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 2017; 68(1): 23-32.
Google Scholar
30
Most read articles by the same author(s)
-
Chaima Jemai,
Rim Rachdi,
Sonia Bellamine,
Lamia Bouallegue,
Faika Ben Mami,
Study of the Association Between Diabetes and Helicobacter Pylori Infection in a Tunisian Population , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 4 (2020) -
Hajer Kandara,
Chaima Jemai,
Abdennebi Cyrine,
Jemel Manel,
Kammoun Ines,
Flexible Insulin Therapy: Results of a Tunisian Experience , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 4 (2020) -
Chaima Jemai,
Sinène EL Frigui,
Faika Ben Mami,
Screening For Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy In a Tunisian Population of Patients With Diabetes , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 4 (2020) -
Insaf Oueslati,
Eya Safi,
Aroua Temessek,
Yosra Htira,
Faika Ben Mami,
Characteristics of a Group of Obese Tunisian People and Results of a Weight Management Intervention , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 6 (2020) -
Zohra Hadj Ali,
Yosra Htira,
Aicha Ben Hammouda,
Faika Ben Mami,
Self-Assessment of Outpatient Management of Hypertension in Diabetics , European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences: Vol. 4 No. 5 (2022)