Poor and malnourished student - truth or myth?

Due to many economic reasons, students are a social group widely regarded as a high risk category when it comes to the threat of malnutrition. The reason for this is the generally low economic status of this social group which in turn leads to a lack of food security and malnutrition. Moreover, eating habits gained at home, eating monotony and frequent fast food consumption can be a cause of debilitating eating conditions. Encumbering students with high fees associated with studying and maintenance, with concomitant lack of earning capacity due to both the limited time off from school as well as the lack of work market, may also contribute to the increased risk of food insecurity. The aim of the study was to assess the food security and nutritional status of Polish fulltime and weekend students taking into account such factors as age, sex, place of residence and type of the household. Assessing questionnaires were used in the study: Food security (according to the „Guide to Measuring Household Food Security”); Nutritional status - MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment by Nestle Research Center). 764 students between 18 and 58 years old were tested. The results showed 2% food insecurity - hunger - in the examined population. On the basis of the MNA test 35% of subjects were at risk of malnutrition. The study has allowed for a realistic assessment of the life situation of the students who study at Polish universities, and we must admit that in connection to the whole population it does not present itself as particularly needy. Food security among students is strongly dependent on age and the type of household run by the student. The nutritional status of students is affected by sex, type of the household and university. Students’ BMI depends in particular on age, sex and type of university.