Data from: Social determinants of food group consumption based on Mediterranean diet pyramid: a cross-sectional study of university students

Considering food habits as a modifiable risk factor, an early intervention
on youth people could avoid future health and social costs. We aim to
determine the level of compliance with the recommendations of the
Mediterranean diet pyramid according to social determinants in university
students and to analyse the association of these social determinants (and
their interaction with gender) with different food group consumption. We
used the records of an electronic cross-sectional survey on university
students (n=593) from inland Spain. The results show, generally, that
university students do not fully comply with the recommendations and that
gender is the social determinant with the greatest effect on differences
in food group consumption. Women have a lower consumption of dairy
products, olives, nuts and seeds, red meat, and processed meat, sweets,
eggs, alcoholic drinks and fast food; and a higher consumption of fruit,
compared with men. Socioeconomic status, geographic area, and whether
students cook for themselves have a limited influence on differences in
food group consumption, which is inconsistent with the literature. Policy
makers should consider this gender gap if they wish to implement a policy
based on healthy diet, considering that other social determinants are also
important, and could interact with gender.