Energy profile and Feeding Status of young adult Cameroonian university students

Abstract

In Cameroon, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are associated to emerging chronic diseases 
and are serious public health as reported on last nutritional surveys. The aim of this study was to 
evaluate the food and macronutrient intakes of 58 students comprising 39 male and 19 female, aged 21 
to 31 years, in Douala, Cameroon. Average daily intakes of energy were then calculated from the 
protein, lipid and carbohydrate content of the food as reported on food composition tables. For males, 
the averages were 26 years, 22.43 Kg/m2 and 2681 ± 1138 Kcal, for age, BMI and energy intakes 
respectively. For females, they were 25 years, 23.04 Kg/m2 and 2266 ± 874 Kcal for age, BMI and energy 
intakes respectively. No case of underweight was observed. Education on food intakes of this group of 
Cameroonians is therefore needed along with further large scale studies.