HYGIENIC ASSESSMENT OF FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND ADEQUACY OF NUTRIENT INTAKE BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The problem of the health status of students, who are the intellectual potential of the nation, has attracted the attention of scientists in recent years. International students are under the multifactorial influence of the environment of the new host country. Nutrition of international students requires special attention, as a factor that influences the development of adaptation processes to new climatic, social, chronobiological conditions and new food. The aim of this research was to analyze the nutrition of students from other countries, who are studied at the Odessa National Medical University and the factors that determine it. The study showed that the actual nutrition of international students is unbalanced in energy content, in the ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, in vitamins, micro- and macroelements content. This creates a metabolic basis for the formation of diseases associated with nutrition. In parallel, non-compliance with the daily regime, sleep and rest, lack of adequate physical activity, bad habits are revealed. This is a prerequisites for the formation of morbid conditions and reduced efficiency. We recommended measures to organize a daily regime, educational work to popularize a healthy lifestyle, rationalization nutrition and improving the teaching methods of the relevant “Food Hygiene” sections in this group of youth.