title: Evaluation of selected dietary behaviours of students according to gender and nutritional knowledge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutrition is a factor influencing physical and mental fitness. In this study we examine the lifestyle of university students and its impact on nutritional errors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dietary behaviours of students taking into account gender and nutritional knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a QEB questionnaire, we were able to evaluate dietary behaviours and nutritional knowledge of respondents. Our analysis was conducted on data obtained from 456 students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that nutritional knowledge for women was 34.7% satisfactory and 34.7% good. In contrast, nutritional knowledge for men varied, amounting to 40.2% satisfactory and 25.1% good. The number of meals and their regular consumption did not depend on gender or the nutritional knowledge of students, however, significant differences were recorded for the types of snacks they eat. A greater number of women than men snacked on sweets and biscuits, nuts and seeds, while in the case of salty snacks an opposite trend was observed. A higher level of nutritional knowledge correlated with the number of students snacking on fruit and vegetables instead of salty snacks. Moreover, it was observed that health-promoting behaviours such as not adding sugar to beverages and not adding salt to dishes were more common with women and individuals with a higher level of nutritional knowledge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women more frequently snack on sweets, biscuits, nuts and seeds. More men snack on salty snacks, add sugar to beverages and add salt to dishes. Individuals with insufficient nutritional knowledge more frequently snack on salty snacks rather than fruit. Students with insufficient nutritional knowledge more often commit nutritional errors.
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zaborowicz
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czarnocińska
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galiński
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaźmierczak
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Górska
authors.affiliation: Poznan University of Life Sciences, Department of Human Nutrition and Hygiene, Wojska Polskiego street 31, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durczewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011044:Poland; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult