Research: Strengthening Student Nutrition Through Education

Many university students have limited nutrition knowledge, which can contribute to poor dietary habits and increased long-term health risks. This research was undertaken to investigate whether improving students’ understanding of nutrition translates into healthier food choices. Researchers conducted a scoping review, synthesising findings from a range of international studies that examined the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake among university students. The findings showed that higher levels of nutrition knowledge were associated with healthier eating patterns, including greater consumption of fruits and vegetables and closer alignment with dietary guidelines. However, the evidence was not entirely consistent, reflecting differences in how studies measured both knowledge and dietary behaviours. While knowledge alone may not be sufficient to drive behaviour change, it provides an important foundation for healthier choices and could play a valuable role within broader, integrated approaches to student health and wellbeing.

Citation: O’Leary, M., Mooney, E. & McCloat, A. The Relationship Between Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Intake of University Students: A Scoping Review. Dietetics, Volume 4, 2025. (link)