Oladosu, Gbenga S.

Introduction: Social media plays a significant role in shaping the behaviors of undergraduates, including food choices. This study examined the influence of social media on food choices and consumption patterns among undergraduates at a Nigerian university. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 400 students was conducted using multistage sampling. Data were collected via a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic, food consumption, social media use, and its perceived influence on food choices. Analyses were conducted in SPSS v29, reporting means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between social media use and food consumption, with significance at P<0.05. Results: Respondents’ mean age was 21.17 ± 2.00 years, with 49.8% aged 15–20. WhatsApp (84.2%) and YouTube (80.7%) were the most used platforms. Over 60% reported that social media influenced their food choices. Confectioneries (70.5%), vegetables (62.5%), and oils (62.3%) were commonly consumed, while alcohol was least consumed (14.5%). Higher social media use was significantly associated with frequent meat and poultry consumption (OR=2.18, P=0.018) and lower odds of oil consumption (OR=0.42, P=0.002). Conclusion: The findings highlight the influence of social media on students’ diets, suggesting the need for nutrition professionals to promote healthier food choices through social platforms.

Background: The consumption of various beverages is prevalent, particularly among professional populations including civil servants. However, the caloric contribution of these beverages is frequently underestimated by consumers, as their intake is often driven by hedonic factors rather than nutritional considerations. This oversight can significantly impact total caloric intake and, consequently, influence overall nutritional status nutritional status. Aims: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status and patterns of beverage intake among civil servants in Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, involving 300 civil servants recruited from four Southwestern states of Nigeria (Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Oyo) using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered multi-component questionnaire, administered by trained experts in nutrition surveys. Statistical analysis involved the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Associations between variables were examined using an independent samples t-test. Statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Results: The demographic profile of the respondents indicated that the majority (71%) of the respondents were aged between 25 and 49 years, 55.3% were female, and 80% were married. Nutritional status assessment revealed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (66.5% of respondents), with 28% being at risk of abdominal obesity. Significant variations in the intake of water (p = 0.003), sodas (p = 0.001), alcoholic beverages (p < 0.001), and herbal drinks (p = 0.006) were observed between male and female respondents. Additionally, soda intake was highest among obese respondents, fruit juice consumption was lowest among underweight respondents, and the intake of energy drinks and alcoholic beverages was highest among overweight respondents. Conclusions: The current study identified a high prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity among the surveyed civil servants. Water, alcoholic beverages, and sodas were found to be the primary contributors to the total beverage intake. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted, work-based nutrition education strategies to improve the nutritional status and promote healthier lifestyle among employed individuals. Keywords: Nutritional Status; Beverage intake; Water intake; Civil servant.