An Overview of Nutritional Status Among Students in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ibn Khaldun University in Bogor

Abstract

Nutritional status is an important indicator for assessing quality of life. Students in college are one of the groups classified as the late adolescent and early adult age range. These group currently in a growth phase that need to have awareness to their nutritional status. The purpose of this study is to understand the nutritional status of students in the Faculty of Health Science at Ibn Khaldun University in Bogor. This research was conducted with a descriptive analytic design. The research sample was taken using consecutive sampling method, consisting of 39 students. Data collection was carried out by collecting personal information from the subject and measuring anthropometric indicators (Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference). Data was analysed by using univariate analysis by examining the frequency distribution of each variable. Based on research findings, the majority of the subject were female (82.1%). Nutritional status based on Body Mass Index (BMI) was distributed among the subject as follows: obese (30.8%), normal (48.7%), and underweieght (20.5%). Based on waist circumference, the majority of subject had a normal nutritional status (71.8%). Some students habit that can affect their nutritional status are staying up late with consuming fastfood in the evening, not maintaining a regular eating pattern and not monitoring their nutritional status regulary. Student with poor nutritional status is more likely to experience infections, while students with better nutritional status may face and increased risk of degenerative disease.