Factors associated with diet quality in college students: differences by ethnic identity.

Abstract

Introduction: Dietary quality is one of the modifiable factors associated with higher mortality. Studying the diet of university students is relevant, as they are exposed to factors such as stress, sleep quality, and emotional dysregulation, which impact eating behavior. In addition, ethnic differences in this population group have been little studied. Objective: To identify the factors associated with diet quality and its differences by ethnic identity among university students in southeastern Mexico. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 182 university students through an online survey. Diet quality was determined using the MINI-ECCA survey, and factors such as BMI, stress, physical activity, sleep quality, and emotional eating were evaluated. The SPSS V27 statistical package was used to perform descriptive analyses, estimate Pearson correlation coefficients, and develop predictive models using linear regression, considering a significant value of p <0,05. Results: In the total sample, higher dietary quality was negatively related to satiety response (ß=-,163). This association was maintained in indigenous students, where diet quality was also associated with perceived stress, while no associations were found in mestizo students. Satiety response (ß=-1,250) and perceived stress (ß=-0,620) were considered predictor variables for a higher quality diet in the indigenous student group. Conclusions: There are differences in some factors associated with diet quality considering ethnicity, so interventions must be culturally adapted.