Seguridad alimentaria y composición corporal en estudiantes de una Institución de Educación Superior.

Abstract

Food security is at risk; it has become a silent problem affecting most university students' homes. This study aimed to determine household food security and body composition among students at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. The study was observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and quantitative in scope. A sample of 32 students underwent medical history taking, body composition assessment using electrical bioimpedance, and household food insecurity measurement using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). The results show that 50% of households in the study sample are moderately food insecure, and 21.88% are severely food insecure. Females predominated among the study participants, accounting for 65.62%. Regarding body composition, a high BMI was observed in 40.63% of young people, and a low total body water level in 37.50%. A low skeletal muscle mass (43.75%) and a high body fat percentage (59.38%) among university students. Finally, students report a lack of time and financial resources, which, combined with the high cost of living in the city, forces them to prioritize expenses, such as transportation and housing, and opt for cheap and ultra-processed foods.