Assessing the Impact of Religion and College Life on Consumption Patterns of Ultra-Processed Foods by Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 16; no. 11; p. 1619
• Main Authors: Navarro-Prado, Silvia, Schmidt-RioValle, Jacqueline, Fernández-Aparicio, Ángel, Montero-Alonso, Miguel Ángel, Perona, Javier S, González-Jiménez, Emilio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.05.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis; Bakers and bakeries; Beverages; Candy; Cardiovascular disease; Christian Islamic relations; College campuses; College environment; College students; Confectionery; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Disease prevention; eating patterns; Fast food; Fast Foods - statistics & numerical data; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food and nutrition; Food habits; Food, Processed; Health aspects; Health care; health promotion; healthy habits; Humans; Inclusion; Influence; Informed consent; Islam; Lifestyles; Male; Meat; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Meetings; Metabolism; Processed foods; Religion; Religious aspects; Social aspects; Spain; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Teenagers; ultra-processed foods; Universities; University students; Young Adult; Young adults; Youth; Spain; Ceuta & Melilla Spain; eating patterns; university students; health promotion; ultra-processed foods; healthy habits
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16111619

(1) Background: University students, often constrained by time and influenced by socio-economic factors such as culture and religion, frequently adopt diets centred on ultra-processed foods (UPFs), increasing the risk of long-term non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess UPF consumption among Spanish university students and explore the potential impact of religion and the academic year on their eating habits. (2) Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 257 university students aged 18-31, UPF consumption was assessed using NOVA food classification at the academic year's start and end. Chi-square and Wilcoxon tests analysed UPF consumption changes, while binary logistic regression identified associations between religion and weekly UPF consumption. (3) Results: Muslim students had a consumption of industrial bakery products almost five times [95% CI: 2.694-9.259] higher than that observed among Christians. Similar data were observed for artificial juice consumption (OR = 3.897, 95% CI = 2.291-6.627) and candy consumption (OR = 3.724, 95% CI = 2.051-6.762). Moreover, a greater percentage of calories and grams of saturated fats from UPFs was observed for Muslims at the end of the study. (4) Conclusions: Highlighting the impact of religion on UPF consumption among students underscores the necessity of monitoring and intervening in dietary habits to prevent undesirable long-term complications such as cardiovascular diseases.