According to a study on the eating habits of university students, carried out by researchers from the University of Navarra at partnership with the Pediatrics Service of the Navarra Hospital Complex, 7% of female university students are overweight compared to 21% of men.

Likewise, the analysis -developed within the program"Por una comida sana, tú decides", promoted by the academic center for promote healthy lifestyle habits- confirms a relationship between eating habits and the academic results obtained by the students.

In this sense, it is demonstrated that those university students who consume more fast food multiply their probability of suffering poor academic results by 5.37 (34% of "bad students" consume this subject food two or more times a week, compared to 10% of the rest who opt for it).

In addition, the students with the most failing grades eat fewer meals per day - 50% eat three or fewer meals per day compared to 35% of those with good grades. The students with the worst results consume less fruit, vegetables and more sugary drinks - 40% have two or more of these drinks a day, compared to 27% who get good grades.

The analysis was based on a 42-question questionnaire randomly administered to 1,227 students from Degree and postgraduate program (479 men and 748 women). Distributed by dietitians-nutritionists, the questionnaires collected data partner -demographic and personal, eating habits and habits in cafeterias and university dining hall, as well as their attitude towards changing these habits. On the other hand, the study took into account the academic results which, only in the case of 6%, acknowledged "fail more than approve".

Healthier women: less salt and more olive oil

Regarding the difference between university women and men, the study confirms that the former tend to reduce salt consumption in meals, to use more olive oil as the main cooking fat and opt for chicken, turkey or rabbit meat (66%); while men opt more for red meat (56%) and fast food (16% choose it more than twice a week compared to 8% of women).

Finally, the director of the study, Dr. Alejandro Fernández-Montero, highlights the fact that although the majority of the volunteers had a normal weight (84% of the women and 76% of the men), 9% of the women were underweight, compared to 3% of the men: "This data worries us because we are dealing with a population of a young age (22 years) average that can be considered at risk of suffering from eating disorders".

With the goal to alleviate this and other problems related to healthy nutrition, the team has launched a campaign to improve the offer of cafeterias and university dining hall, bring to the activity professor the Education on healthy habits and different programs of study to continue to know the causes of different nutritional habits, with the support of the Mapfre Foundation.