Hábitos alimenticios en estudiantes de posgrado de la facultad de odontología en la universidad Santo Tomás seccional Bucaramanga

Abstract

Introduction: Postgraduate students face challenges that impact their eating habits, such as stress, lack of time, and academic pressure. A healthy diet is key to preventing malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. Objective: To determine the dietary profile and identify factors influencing the food choices of postgraduate dental residents at Santo Tomás University during 2024. Materials and Methods: Analytical observational cross-sectional study involving 76 students selected through stratified sampling. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire that evaluates eating habits on a Likert scale, considering variables such as socioeconomic status, semester, and physical activity level. Results: 57.9% of participants were single women, and 59.2% belonged to a middle socioeconomic stratum. There was low concern about the caloric content of foods and infrequent reading of nutrition labels. Emotional eating predominated in 70% of cases, where participants ate due to anxiety or boredom, mainly fast food. Although a high proportion reported daily vegetable intake, the consumption of fruits, fish, and legumes was insufficient. Only a minority complied with the recommended four meals per day, and few ate slowly or avoided unnecessary foods. A significant sedentary pattern was identified, with 41.3% sitting between 7 and 9 hours per day and 30.3% not engaging in regular physical activity. The overall score indicated barely sufficient eating habits. The most critical dimension was sedentary behavior. Conclusions: A pattern of emotional eating, sedentary lifestyle, and low adherence to nutritional recommendations was evident, justifying the design of targeted strategies to improve the dietary health of this population.