The comparision of the diet quality of students in two different departments of a university

In this study, diet quality of the students in department of Nutrition and Dietetics (ND) was compared with the diet quality of the students in department of English Language Teaching (ELT) by Healthy Eating Index (HEI). This study was conducted on 176 university students; 105 students from department of ND and 71 students from department of ELT. 89,8% of the students were female and only 10,2% were male and mean age was 20,95±2,35 years. 75,6% of the students were normal weight. Only 9,7% were overweight or obese and 14,8% were thin. Dietary intake of students was measured with 24-hour dietary recall (24HDR) method and dietary quality was assessed by means of the HEI. The mean of total HEI score of all students was 60,85±10,88. 14,8% of the students had a 'poor diet', 81,8% had a diet that needs improvement, and 3,4% had a 'good diet'. In general population, the scores of total fat, saturated fat, vegetables and fruits components of the HEI were found low. Highest mean HEI component score was cholesterol. When the diet quality of students in two departments was compared; mean of total HEI score of ND students was significantly higher than mean of total HEI score of ELT students (p<0,05). Mean scores for milk and dietary variety component of the HEI were significantly high in ND students (p<0,05). In this study, there was a negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and total HEI score, grain component and dietary variety (p<0,05). There was a positive correlation between grain component and dietary variety and total HEI score (p<0,01). There was also a positive correlation between dietary variety and total HEI score (p<0,01). Consequently, according to the total HEI score, although the diet quality of department of ND students was significantly better than the diet quality of department of ELT students, the overall diet quality of university students need modification and improvement. Key words: University students, diet quality, healthy eating index, nutrition