| dc.description.abstract | Nutritional issues remain one of the unresolved health problems to this day. According to the 2018 basic health research, it was found that 9,3 percent of the population (aged > 18 years) were categorized as underweight, 13,6 percent as overweight, and 21,8 percent as obese. The prevalence of obesity in Indonesia indicates that one-fifth of the adult population is obese. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship of balanced nutrition knowledge and food intake with nutritional status of health cluster students at Universitas Sumatera Utara. This research is a cross-sectional study with a sample of health faculty students at the Universitas Sumatera Utara selected using proportionate random sampling techniques. Based on the study of health faculty students at the Universitas Sumatera Utara, which consists of the faculties of public health, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry, it was found that 17 students (18,5%) were underweight and 18 students (19,6%) were overweight. Furthermore, it was found that 14 students (15,2%) still had inadequate knowledge of balanced nutrition. The dietary intake of students was also largely inadequate and excessive, such as energy and carbohydrate intake being mostly insufficient, and protein and fat intake being mostly excessive. Statistical tests showed a significant relationship between balanced nutrition knowledge and nutritional status (0,001 < 0,05), and a relationship between dietary intake in terms of adequacy levels and nutritional status. However, statistical tests to examine the relationship between dietary intake in terms of food variety on both the first and second days showed no relationship with the nutritional status of the students. It is hoped that students will be more prudent in choosing foods to consume according to the principles of balanced nutrition, and that the university will improve the access and quality of the campus cafeteria. | en_US |
