Dietary habits and diversity among male academic professionals in Ibadan, Nigeria: A cross sectional study
1
Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Dietary habits and diversity are key determinants of health and are crucial in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Male academic professionals may be vulnerable to unhealthy dietary habits due to demanding schedules, work-related stress and sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, this study assessed dietary habits, dietary diversity, and the associated factors among male academic professionals in Ibadan, Nigeria.
METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional study among 235 male academic professionals in selected universities and research institutes using multistage sampling. Data were collected using an adapted WHO STEPS-based questionnaire, including a food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour recall-based tool to assess dietary diversity across 14 food groups, with scores categorized as poor (0-6) or adequate (7-14). Descriptive statistics summarized participants' background characteristics and dietary habits (such as snacking, skipping breakfast, fruits and vegetable consumption), and logistic regression identified factors associated with dietary outcomes.
RESULTS:
The mean age was 46.4 years (± 9.5). The prominent dietary habits were adequate dietary diversity (80%), skipping breakfast (69.4%), frequent snacking (61.7%), low fruits and vegetables consumption (45.5%), however eating out of home was not as common (30.2%). We found that work-related stress was associated with skipping breakfast (AOR = 3.93; 95% CI: 1.73–8.93), snacking (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.49–4.11) and adequate dietary diversity (AOR = 7.68; 95% CI: 3.47–16.98). Being a Muslim (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.20–0.90), middle-income earners (AOR = 3.76; 95% CI: 2.05–6.93) were associated with skipping breakfast. Both middle- and high-income earners had lower odds of frequent eating out (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24–0.59, AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.11–0.44).
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite high dietary diversity, unhealthy dietary habits persisted among male academics. The association between work-related stress and dietary diversity implies the need for workplace nutrition policies, stress management strategies and institutional wellness programmes to improve dietary quality and overall well-being.
Dietary habits and diversity are key determinants of health and are crucial in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Male academic professionals may be vulnerable to unhealthy dietary habits due to demanding schedules, work-related stress and sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, this study assessed dietary habits, dietary diversity, and the associated factors among male academic professionals in Ibadan, Nigeria.
METHODS:
We conducted a cross-sectional study among 235 male academic professionals in selected universities and research institutes using multistage sampling. Data were collected using an adapted WHO STEPS-based questionnaire, including a food frequency questionnaire and a 24-hour recall-based tool to assess dietary diversity across 14 food groups, with scores categorized as poor (0-6) or adequate (7-14). Descriptive statistics summarized participants' background characteristics and dietary habits (such as snacking, skipping breakfast, fruits and vegetable consumption), and logistic regression identified factors associated with dietary outcomes.
RESULTS:
The mean age was 46.4 years (± 9.5). The prominent dietary habits were adequate dietary diversity (80%), skipping breakfast (69.4%), frequent snacking (61.7%), low fruits and vegetables consumption (45.5%), however eating out of home was not as common (30.2%). We found that work-related stress was associated with skipping breakfast (AOR = 3.93; 95% CI: 1.73–8.93), snacking (AOR = 2.48; 95% CI: 1.49–4.11) and adequate dietary diversity (AOR = 7.68; 95% CI: 3.47–16.98). Being a Muslim (AOR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.20–0.90), middle-income earners (AOR = 3.76; 95% CI: 2.05–6.93) were associated with skipping breakfast. Both middle- and high-income earners had lower odds of frequent eating out (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24–0.59, AOR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.11–0.44).
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite high dietary diversity, unhealthy dietary habits persisted among male academics. The association between work-related stress and dietary diversity implies the need for workplace nutrition policies, stress management strategies and institutional wellness programmes to improve dietary quality and overall well-being.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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