Dietary routine among university students from Quintana Roo and its influence on gastritis

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the relationship between eating behavior and the presence of gastritis in university students of the Division of Health Sciences in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 124 Medicine, and Nursing students from a university in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, during the period January–May 2025. The age range of the participants is from 17 to 30 years, they were selected by convenience sampling. A validated questionnaire (Irala et al., 2014) (6) was used to assess general data, eating habits and patterns, frequency of food consumption, and self-perception of food intake. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v21, using descriptive statistics and chi-square (χ²) tests with a significance level of p < 0.05 to identify associations between variables.

Results: The prevalence of gastritis was 25.8%, slightly higher in men (30.2%) than in women (23.5%). Fruit consumption was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of gastritis (p=0.041), while unsweetened beverages (p=0.043) and main course consumption (0.036) showed a significant association with the presence of gastritis. Most cases of gastritis were evaluated by symptomatology.

Conclusion: Dietary behavior influences the occurrence of gastritis in university students, highlighting the urgency of implementing intervention strategies to promote healthy eating habits and prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

Keywords: Gastritis; Students; Feeding behavior; Prevalence.