Estado nutricional de estudantes universitários

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the nutritional status of university students and its main associated factors, considering eating habits, physical activity levels, psychosocial aspects, body image, and socioeconomic conditions. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the MedLine/PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Elsevier, and Cochrane Library databases, including studies published between 2020 and 2025. After screening and full-text reading of eligible articles, 42 studies were selected. The results showed a predominance of eutrophy, accompanied by a significant increase in overweight and obesity, as well as inadequate dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods and low intake of unprocessed foods, along with low levels of physical activity. Psychosocial factors such as stress, anxiety, poor sleep quality, and body dissatisfaction were also found to influence eating behavior, in addition to the impact of socioeconomic conditions on diet quality. An association between poorer nutritional status and lower academic performance was observed. It is concluded that the nutritional status of university students is multifactorial and requires integrated actions promoting health, physical activity, nutritional education, and psychological support within the university environment.