Dietary patterns of university students in the UK: a cross-sectional study

Nutrition Journal

Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the sample

	Number	Percentage (%)^a
Gender
Male	384	26.5
Female	1064	73.5
Age (years)
17–21	873	60.3
22–25	412	28.5
26–30	163	11.3
BMI (kg.m⁻²)
< 18.5	112	7.7
18.5–24.9	1000	69.1
25–29.9	220	15.2
≥30	76	5.2
Leisure-time physical activity
Not very active	473	32.7
Moderately active	748	51.7
Very active	227	15.7
University attended
University of Sheffield	567	39.2
Ulster University	443	30.6
KCL	305	21.1
University of Southampton	79	5.5
University of St Andrews	54	3.7
Faculty of study
Arts	252	17.4
Social science	285	19.7
Engineering	109	7.5
Science	212	14.6
Medicine and health	521	36.0
Full or part time status
Full time	1394	96.3
Part time	54	3.7
Year of study
1st year undergraduate	489	33.8
2nd year undergraduate	301	20.8
3rd year undergraduate	264	18.2
4th or higher year undergraduate	136	9.4
Postgraduate	245	16.9
Other	13	0.9
Term-time residence
University catered accommodation	58	4.0
University self-catered accommodation	340	23.5
Private accommodation with other friends/students	610	42.1
Private accommodation on own	63	4.4
With parents/relatives	205	14.2
With partner	107	7.4
With parents/partner & children	48	3.3
With children only	9	0.6
Other	8	0.6
Ethnic background
White British	911	62.9
White Irish	235	16.2
Other White ethnicity	139	9.6
Mixed ethnicity	45	3.1
Asian/Asian British	69	4.8
Black/African/Caribbean/Black British	15	1.0
Other	16	1.1
Would rather not say	18	1.2
Mother’s level of education
CSE	80	5.5
Vocational	59	4.1
O Level	184	12.7
A Level	96	6.6
Degree	342	23.6
Would rather not say	120	8.3
Not asked^b	567	39.2
Smoking habits
Never smoker	1090	75.3
Ex-smoker	72	5.0
Social smoker	192	13.3
Regular smoker	94	6.5

ISSN: 1475-2891