RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to find out the dietary pattern among undergraduate dental students and evaluate its impact on their biophysical profile and academic achievement. METHODS: A convenient sample of 150 Saudi female dental students was selected as study participants, and a close-ended questionnaire divided into two parts was distributed among them.The questionnaire included questions on their eating habits, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and blood pressure. The collected data was statistically analyzed using SPSS version 19, and the chi-square test, correlation analysis, and descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: It was observed that a majority (40%) of the study participants replaces their meals with snacks, and 26% did not take regular meals.The results reveal a significant association between blood pressure, BMI, and WHR among University female students. No significant association has been found between grade-point-average (GPA) and dietary pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The study concluded that the majority of university female students consumed unhealthy diets such as snacks. Fruit intake was lower than the recommended amount by World Health Organisation (WHO). Conducting appropriate nutrition related-public health programs would be beneficial in raising awareness regarding different aspects of dietary habits.
