ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health and Nutrition
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1621661
This article is part of the Research TopicExploring Socio-Cultural Factors in Human Nutrition: The Importance of Multidimensional Approaches.View all 4 articles
Relationship Between Diet, Sociodemographic Factors, and Body Composition in Students from UNEMI and ESPOCH
Provisionally accepted
Katherine Denisse Suarez González*
Angélica María Solis Manzano
María Victoria Padilla Samaniego
Verónica Patricia Sandoval Tamayo
Edgar Rolando Morales Caluña- State University of Milagro, Milagro, Ecuador
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The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of diet and sociodemographic factors on the body structure and composition of university students from the State University of Milagro (UNEMI) and the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo (ESPOCH) in Ecuador. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 404 students selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection included dietary assessments, anthropometric measurements, and sociodemographic data. Dietary intake was evaluated using a 24-hour recall and a food frequency questionnaire.The results indicated that only 2% of students maintained a nutrient-rich diet, while more than 78% exhibited poor dietary patterns. Differences in body composition according to fat intake level were not statistically significant, although trends suggested a dietary effect on muscle mass development and adiposity. Additionally, the analysis revealed associations between sociodemographic factors and body composition: men born in the Highland region exhibited a higher percentage of body fat and hip circumference than those from the Coastal region.Although no significant associations were found with parental place of origin, a trend in muscle mass percentage among men depending on paternal origin was identified. These findings highlight the importance of considering the sociocultural context and dietary habits in the design of nutritional intervention strategies aimed at university students.It is concluded that improving dietary patterns and promoting active lifestyles in this population can positively impact body health and chronic disease prevention. Implementing nutritional education programs tailored to students' sociocultural realities is recommended.
Keywords: University diet, Body Composition, sociodemographic factors, Cardiovascular health, Ecuadorian students
Received: 01 May 2025; Accepted: 30 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Suarez González, Solis Manzano, Padilla Samaniego, Sandoval Tamayo and Morales Caluña. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Katherine Denisse Suarez González, State University of Milagro, Milagro, Ecuador
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