Comportamiento alimentario en estudiantes de la carrera de enfermería de la Universidad Técnica de Ambato durante el confinamiento por la pandemia COVID-19

Abstract

Eating behaviors are habits or customs that students adopt throughout their training, which may vary. Objective: To evaluate the eating behavior in students of the Nursing Career during the confinement due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. For which was performed an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, with a sample of 215 students, to whom a questionnaire was applied about eating behavior that is validated, evaluating the selection, preparation, food intake schedules, food intake preferences, beliefs, and barriers to change. 36.6% of students choose their food based on taste, 51.6% like meats and seafood, 7.9% dislike nuts. 50.2% eat with someone else, 46.0% have breakfast from 9 to 10 am on weekends, 47.9% eat lunch from 14 to 15 hours and finally 45.9% snack from 19 to 20 on Monday Friday, 65.6% consume prepared food, 39.1% consume fried, 75.8% drink soft drinks. As for eating out, 38.1% and 37.2% eat excessively 43.3% have disinterest in nutrition labels, so 57.7% do not avoid food and finally 42.8% of students lack commitment to improve their diet and 0.5% are not interested. Conclusion: Inappropriate eating behavior, they prefer foods for their taste or for their visual appeal to their nutritional value because they are disinterested in nutrition labels, relegating fruits and vegetables