Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating Habits and Food Purchasing Behaviors of University Students

COVID-19 disease, which spread rapidly all over the world after the first case was detected, became the primary agenda of the countries. Radical measures have been taken by governments to prevent the spread of the disease. Precautions and warnings to prevent disease caused some changes on daily life activities of people. University students who have to stop education are among the groups most affected by this disease sociologically, psychologically and physiologically. The aim of this study was planned and conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on university students' eating habits and food purchasing behavior. The study was completed with 866 university students education and training at the faculty of health sciences. Research data was obtained by online questionnaire. This questionnaire has been prepared with the information obtained as a result of the literature review and the opinions of experts by researchers. The questionnaire includes questions about eating habits and food purchasing behaviors. A result of the study, COVID-19 disease caused significant changes in the eating habits and food purchasing behaviors of university students. In general, it was found that the participants increased their consumption compared to before COVID-19, they paid more attention to hygiene while food purchasing

Evaluation of Added Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption by University Students

Today, increased intake of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages is seen today as an important factor in the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, obesity-related diabetes, and coronary heart diseases. This study involved 214 university students from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics of Ankara University, Faculty of Health Science, which was intended to evaluate the consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages. The frequency of student consumption of beverages and the quantities and amounts of sugar taken with beverages were questioned. The average total amount of sugar added to drinks by the students was 4.69 ± 6.35 gram, while the average total amount of sugar taken with sugar-sweetened beverages was 11.34 ± 15.32 gram. Female students relative to male students, students in grade 4 compared to grades 2 and 3, and students who had daily breakfast compared to those who did not had lower average sugar consumption (p-value 0.05). It is important to educate university students about the reduction in sugar intake and sugar-containing food in order to avoid many chronic diseases that may be seen in older ages