A SURVEY ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF

BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

A Research

Presented to the Faculty of

College of Education

Bulacan State University

City of Malolos, Bulacan

In Partial Fulfilment of the

Requirements for Research I

by

Robles, Melodie P.

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 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

1.1 Introduction

Food is one of the essential needs of human to survive. It is a substance

consumed that nourishes the body and provides nutritional support for an organism. It

provides us energy to do our everyday living and it also provides essential nutrients that

our body can’t manufacture. Food also helps us in building and strengthening our body,

along with regulating our bodily processes. It means that all the food that we eat affects

our health in a good or bad way, depending on what kind of eating lifestyle we will

choose.

The food on our diet is the one that provides us nutrients which are required in

varying amounts in different parts of the bodies. These nutrients are utilized by the body

for performing specific functions. One way of checking if the nutrients in the food that

we are eating are appropriate for us is to determine our nutritional status. The nutritional

status of a certain population determines the standing of overall health status which

affects the growth and development of a society. (1) The nutritional status of an individual

is often the result of many inter-related factors. It is influenced by food intake, quantity

and quality, and physical health. The spectrum of nutritional status spread from obesity to

normal to severe malnutrition.

Nutritional status is commonly defined as a condition or state of health of a

person that is influenced by the intake and utilization of nutrients. For us to have healthy

mind and body, we should include nutritious food on our diet. It also important to take

note on the amount of nutrients in the food that we are taking or the Recommended

Dietary Allowances (RDA), for us to meet the needs of our body. If we include both of

these factors in our diet, then we are in a good state of nutrition, which means that we

have a normal nutritional status.

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 (2)
However, when the nutrients provided in the diet are inadequate or not utilized

properly, it results in a state of imbalance in the body. It may develop into a severe

problem if this kind of diet and lifestyle continues for some time, which may even prove

fatal. When there is a lack or excess intake of one or more nutrients and/or faulty and

improper utilization of nutrients in our body, it leads to the state of imbalance in the

body. This condition is known as malnutrition.

Figure 1: Nutritional Status

Malnutrition, whether it’s over nutrition and under nutrition, has a high

percentage in some of the developing countries in Southeast Asia. Some countries in

Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines, are in a condition in which the undernutrition co-

exists with over nutrition. There are some countries in which undernutrition children

predominates over nutrition children, while the rest of the countries have the opposite,

which means children and other population groups, is at high-risk of over nutrition and

obesity.

(3)
Based on the latest survey by pan-Asian insurance giant AIA Group, the

Philippines scored 61 out of 100, below the regional average of 64. The result for the

other countries is good because of some improvements, but for Philippines, this result is

bad because from 6th rank, it slips out to 9th rank out of 15 countries. While on the latest

survey of National Nutrition Survey conducted by Food and Nutrition Research Institute

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in the Philippines, some of the regions in the Philippines don’t show any signs of

improvement on their nutritional status and it only became even worse over the past

decades.

The 2015 National Nutrition Survey showed that cases of underweight, wasting,

stunting and obesity have caught the attention of some nutritionist because of the

increasing prevalence among children and adolescents. In the adolescent’s age group, the

prevalence of underweight was 31.9%. While prevalence of obesity/overweight was 9.2

%, which is 1% more compared to the last two years. Which will leaves in a conclusion

that almost 50% of adolescent’s nutritional status is under malnutrition.

There are different ways on which nutritional status can be assessed. It can be

assessed through the use of anthropometric measurement, biochemical measurements

clinical assessment and measurement of dietary intake. One example of it is the

anthropometric measurement, a tool which is used to assess the size, shape and

composition of the body. Anthropometry is widely recognized as one of the useful

techniques to assess the growth and nutritional status of an individual or population (Rao

et al, 2001). Some of the anthropometric measurements that are most commonly used in

assessing nutritional status include height/length, weight and body mass index (BMI).

In this study, the researcher believes that it is essential for the students of Bulacan

State University to have awareness on their nutritional status, because it can help the

students to evaluate if their chosen diet and lifestyle is appropriate for them or not. In the

study, a survey will be conducted from different colleges of the university in order for the

researcher to determine the nutritional status of the students of the Bulacan State

University. Through this study, the researcher can establish recommendations and

solutions, like intervention programs, that would assist concerned personnel at the college

level, the government and especially the parents in early preparation and providing the

students with a solid foundation of nutrition.

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1.2 Statement of the Problem

The general problem of this study is focused on conducting a survey to determine

the nutritional status of the students in Bulacan State University.

Specifically, the study will answer the following research questions:

1. How the respondents be described in terms of their profile:

1.1.Age

1.2.Gender

1.3.Year Level

1.4.Course/College

2. What is the nutritional status of the students of Bulacan State University in terms of:

2.1 Height

2.2 Weight

2.3 BMI

3. Based on the results of the study, what intervention program may be crafted to

address the problems in nutrition of the Bulacan State University students?

1.3 Significance of the Study

The findings of the study can offer significant information and insights beneficial to

the following:

Students. The study would be helpful to the college students for them to be aware

of their nutritional status. The students will be enlighten if their current eating habits and

lifestyle should be change or retain for their nutritional status to be good.

Parents. Through this study, the parents will be aware of their children’s

nutritional status and because of the fact that partly, they are the one who’s preparing

their children’s meal, they will be enlighten on what food should and should not be

prepare for their children, especially for breakfast, because breakfast is the one that will

give sufficient energy to their children for them to do all their activities in school.

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 Community/Country. This study would help our country to develop future

leaders, producers and professionals. Children and adolescents will someday grow-up to

be the stronger foundation of our society, and it will only be possible if they will have a

healthy mind and body. This study will give awareness on the community about the

student’s nutritional status. Through this, the community can give an immediate action,

like creating intervention programs, that would assist the parents in early preparation, as

well as providing the students a strong foundation of nutrition.

University and Colleges. This study would help the University to be aware of the

nutritional status of the students and how it affects the cognitive development of the

students. They would be enlighten on what foods should the students consume and they

can make an action on establishing an intervention program, like feeding programs, that

can help students to be more knowledgeable about nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Future Researchers. This study will serve as a future reference to the upcoming

researchers who will conduct a survey on the nutritional status of the students in Bulacan

State University. The pieces of information yielded from this study will be beneficial as a

guide and basis in constructing their own concepts related to this research.

1.4 Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The respondents to which the finding, discussion of the finding and implication of

the research were especially consist of students from different colleges of the Bulacan

State University. The study will cover some of the demographic factors of the students.

Through the findings of the study on the different variables, the researcher will be able to

determine the nutritional status of Bulacan State University students.

The research will be limited to the influencing factors such as age, gender, year

level, college or course, height and weight, and body mass index of the students. Those

were the information that is needed in the study and they can contribute on the survey to

determine the nutritional status of the students of Bulacan State University. The

respondents will be given the same questionnaire to answer.

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 Notes in Chapter I

List of Materials:

o Discovering Nutrition. Second Edition. 2006. Pg. 4. Paul M. Insel, R. Elaine

Turner, Don Ross

o http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/presentations/central-luzon-results-for-double-

burden-of-malnutrition/

o Discovering Nutrition. Second Edition. 2006. Pg. 28. Paul M. Insel, R. Elaine
Turner, Don Ross

o Baccay, C.R. D, Robles, M., Centeno, M. (2015). Factors Affecting Career Indecision

Among Freshmen and Shifter Students of Bulacan State University

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 CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This chapter will explore the different theories, literatures and studies related to

this study and these will also serve as a guide or support for the researcher to have a

better understanding in the study. The following related theories, literature and studies

can also give information connected to the study and that it can help to support the study

by early and consistent evaluation and interventions.

2.1 Review of Related/Relevant Theories

Theory of Nutrition

Food is one of the most essential needs of a living organism, like human;

because it helps our bodies grow and develop. It is a substance consumed that nourishes

the body and provides nutritional support for an organism. Since food is an essential need

of the human, theory of nutrition too, is also included as essential need to human. Simply

because all the food that we eat affects our health in a good or bad way, depending on

what kind of eating lifestyle we will choose. In history of science there were two theories

of nutrition. The first one is known as ancient theory of nutrition and the second one is

known as classical theory of balanced diet, which was form by the end of the 19th

century.

The ancient theory of nutrition is said to be associated with the name

Aristotle and Galen. It states in this theory that:

“The power to all structures of the body is due to the blood, which is

continuously formed in the digestive system of nutrients as a result of a complex process

of unknown to nature, in a way similar to the fermentation.”

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 Blood is important in our body, solely because of its function of absorbing

of nutrients from the foods that we eat. All the foods that we consume were getting

digested along with digested juices, and all of the nutrients from these foods will be

absorb by the walls of small intestine into the bloodstream of our body. Based on these

representations, numerous therapeutic diets were built, that were to provide an easier

transformation of food into the blood with the best qualities of the latter and with these,

and we will be able to build a strong foundation of growth and development in our body.

The second part of the theory is the classical theory of a balance diet. For

our body to absorb many nutrients, the first thing that we should focus on is our diet. This

theory is mainly about the ideal food and optimal balanced diet that can help our body

grow and develop. Having a meal with an adequate nutrients and using Recommended

Dietary Allowances table for a specific life phase is an important component for us to

create a well-balanced diet that can help us monitor and maintain our growth and

development. Under the best nutritional standards we understand such rules that

completely cover the needs of the bodies for adults, and in addition, the needs of growth

and development for the children. Proper diet promotes working capacity, and is one of

the most important conditions for the appropriate functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Theory of Food (2012)

According to John S. Allen (2012) in his book, The Omnivorous Mind (Harvard

Univ. Press, 2012)1, the theory of food is that:

“What we eat as children shapes how we think food as adults.”

Allen argued that every one of us has a “theory of food” which acts as a guide on

what food to eat, how and how much food should we consume. He believes that we have

a natural tendency to acquire the theory of food and to develop it, but as we grow older

and turn into adult, developing it will become more complex. In a study of Maciuszek,

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Aberg, and Shahmehri (2005) as cited in the research of Aberg (2006), changing habits of

food consumption is known to be difficult, and may require continual supervision and

education. It is important to establish healthy eating habits while they are child for it to be

fixed until adult and to have a healthy body and mind when they grow up.

The foods that we used to eat from the beginning of our life later on become our

food ways but it can be changed if we are strongly influenced by our environment. Many

people consider and believe that dietary habits can be fixed through young age but not all

of them appreciate and apply it in their lifestyle. There are still instances where people

choose unhealthy eating habits even if they know that it can be fixed throughout the years

and complicated to renounce.

It is important for people to established healthy eating habits while they are still

infants for them to develop healthy eating patterns into their childhood up to adulthood

and for them to build a strong foundation of growth and development. According to

Allen as cited by the authors in the study (Sodium and Sugar in Complementary Infant

and Toddler Foods Sold in the United States, 2015)3, that authors point out that educating

the parents in relation to healthy eating habits of their children is important and that it can

help to make an early intervention in establishing healthy eating habits among the

children. It is not only important for the parents to have a nutritional knowledge in the

food that their children consumes, but it is also an important step for parents to

understand the cognitive foundation of a child's food habits to improve the child’s diet.

Constructing of food habit is a natural tendency to acquire because it is a product

of our cognitive development, but is differ according to the learning environment or

people that we interact to. That is why parents have a big role in applying meal plans to

establish heathy eating habits for the children to grow and develop. It is because their

presence and support can affect their children’s perspective in food habits.

The theory of food is somehow relevant to this study because it can help to make

an early intervention in developing healthy eating habits among children. One of the

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ways for people to establish healthy eating habits is by developing a meal plan according

to their age and nutritional needs. If an appropriate meal plan was applied at a young age

and eventually developed healthy eating habits until adolescents, then nutritional needs

are sufficiently supplied in the body, thus resulting in great academic performance most

especially on college students.

Health Belief Model (1950’s)

Health Belief Model (HBM) is a model developed by social psychologists named

Hochbaum, Rosenstock and Kegels who were working in the U.S. Public Health

Services. It is a model developed to explain and predict health behaviors and is done

through focusing on the beliefs and attitudes of an individual. This model has four

constructs, which are perceive susceptibility, perceive severity, perceive benefits,

perceived barriers and the recently added concept which are “cues to action” and self-

efficacy.

The Health Belief Model is most likely based on the perception that a person will

take a health-seeking action if that person believes that by taking the positive health-

seeking action, negative health consequence and threat can be avoided. HBM addresses

the relationship between a person’s beliefs and behaviors. It provides a way to

understanding and predicting how clients will behave in relation to their health and how

they will comply with health care therapies

Basically, this model will act as a support for a person to take a positive health-

related action that uses the desire to avoid a negative health consequence as the prime

motivation. The key element of this theory is that there must be a present negative health

consequence to avoid. It will not fit the model if the person is not motivated to overcome

the negative health consequence with the use of positive health-related action.

In this study, the negative health consequence is the malnutrition of college

students that leads to delayed in the cognitive development, thus resulting to poor

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academic performance. The positive health-related action that will be applied is the

specific meal plan developed according to the nutritional needs of the college students.

If the students became aware that their nutritional status is poor (perceive

susceptibility), they will realize that this status can greatly affect their academic

performance. That consequence is enough for them to try and avoid it (perceive severity).

The students believe that a recommended action like applying a specific meal plan would

help them; possibly by allowing those to improve their diet and lifestyle (perceive

benefits).

Source: Glanz et al, 2002, p.

52

Figure 2: Health Belief Model

Source: Glanz et al, 2002, p. 52

2.2 Review or Related/Relevant Literature

Numerous authors around the world are conducted looking into effect and help in

the development of an appropriate meal plan according to the nutritional needs of college

students.

Height

Height or stature is a measurement of an individual’s length from head to toe, in a

standing position. It is one of the components needed in anthropometric measurement to

assess nutritional status of a person or community. Height is sometimes measured to

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know if it is accurate or linear for the age of an individual. This measure of linear growth

is also known as the height-for age-index.

In 1977, Waterlow et al suggested that by using height standards, malnourished

children can be classified as stunted if they have low height-for-age index. According to

the book Principles on Nutritional Assessment, height-for-age is a measure of achieved

linear growth that can be used as an index of past nutritional or health status. So if the

result of the height-for-age index of an individual is low, there is a great possibility for

that person to acquire “shortness” in height. This condition is widely known as stunting,

or the gaining of insufficient height relative to age (WHO, 1995a). According to the book

Nutritional Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for Planning Intervention, while

weight-for-age is generally interpreted as an indicator of present nutritional status, height-

for-age on the other hand is considered as an indicator of long term nutritional adequacy.

In the infographic results conducted by ASEAN DNA in 2014, the average height

among the women in Philippines is 150 cm, while the average height among men in the

Philippines is 162 cm. If we will compare the average height of Filipinos to other

ASEAN countries, Philippines will rank second to the last among the countries in the

ASEAN. On the other hand, if we compare the average height of Filipino men to the

average height of ASEAN men, ASEAN men will outrank Filipino men by only 2 cm.

It’s also the same thing for Filipino women in comparison to ASEAN women.

According to the 8th National Nutrition Survey, the results show that there aren’t

any improvements in the height among adolescents. Stunting and shortness is still a trend

among adolescents, with the prevalence of 31.5% and with higher rates among males.

The average height among women adolescents is 151.4cm, while the average height

among men is 163cm.

Some of the reason why an individual acquire “shortness” is because of frequent

period of food deprivation, or sometimes infection, or prolonged period of consuming

inadequate foods. Consuming nutrients from foods, without applying the Recommended

13
Dietary Allowances, can also result into growth retardation whether it is over

consumption or lack of consumption. It can also be because of the genes that we inherited

from our parents and we will just naturally be short. Although improved diet mat result

help an individual increased in height, some growth retardation may occur, particularly if

the period of stress or nutritional deprivation is prolonged.

Weight

A weight is a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving

rise to a downward force, in simplest definition, weight is the heaviness of a person or

thing. Like height, weight is also one of the components needed in anthropometric

measurement and has been a basic tool for evaluating health and to assess nutritional

status of a person or community. A weight of an individual is needed to be measured,

because the weight of an individual must be right and accurate for their age. If the

measurement of the weight of an individual is not accurate for his/her age, then that

individual will most likely to acquire malnutrition, whether it is overweight or

underweight.

In 1977, Waterlow et al suggested that by using weight standards, malnourished

children can be classified as wasted if they have low height-for-age index, and obese if

they have a high height-for-age index. According to the book Principles on Nutritional

Assessment, weight-for-age reflects body mass to chronological age. So if the result of

the weight-for-age index of an individual is low, there is a great possibility for that person

to acquire wasting, and if the weight-for-age index of an individual is high, then there is a

great possibility for that person to acquire obesity. However, according to the book

Nutrition Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for Planning Intervention, weight-for-age

index does not distinguish the difference between the present and long-term malnutrition,

but instead it is an index that relate the body mass of an individual to its age. It is also

mentioned in the book that weight-for-age is generally interpreted as an indicator of

14
present nutritional status and height-for-age on the other hand is considered as an

indicator of long term nutritional adequacy.

In the 8th National Nutrition Survey, which was conducted last 2013, the

prevalence of obesity among adolescents in the Philippines increased by 1.6 % in just two

years. The regions that have the highest rates of obesity are Cordillera Administrative

Region (CAR), Central Luzon (Region III), and National Capital Region (NCR). Among

these regions, two of them are from urban areas, in which according to the survey, have

higher rates of obesity, compared to rural areas.

According to the result of the survey that the Food and Nutrition Research

Institute (FNRI) the average weight among Filipino men is 61.3 kg. While Filipino

women on the other hand, has an average weight of 54.3 kg.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI or body mass index is an anthropometric index that relates the body mass

(weight) and stature (height). Body Mass Index (BMI) is an anthropometric index of

weight and height that is defined as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters

squared (Keys et al., 1972). BMI is the commonly accepted index for classifying

adiposity in adults and it is recommended for use with children and adolescents. Like

weight-for-stature, BMI is a screening tool used to identify individuals who are

underweight or overweight. BMI is NOT a diagnostic tool (Barlow and Dietz, 1998).

According to Waterlow et al. the children can be classified as either stunted, if

they have low height for age index, or wasted, if they have low weight for height index.

While this approach has the advantage of being based upon easily obtainable

measurements, it is ineffective for accurately distinguishing the truly malnourished child

from simply underweight. The use of indices of weight for height is also inadequate for

predicting mortality risk in a community.

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 High weight-for-height in children is termed “overweight” and arises from

gaining excess weight relative to height or from gaining insufficient height relative to

weight (WHO, 1995a). But according to the book Anthropometric Standards for the

Assessment of Growth and Nutritional Status, the ineffectiveness of the weight for height

indices is also evident under conditions of affluence. Obesity is mostly described as

condition having excess fat and having a high weight-for-height index, but a muscular

large framed child can also have a high weight-for-height index. It means that weight

doesn’t necessarily imply excess fat and underweight is not necessarily associated with

protein energy malnutrition.

The body mass index of an individual can be computed by body mass divided by

the square of the body height:

BMI = (weight in kg/height in metre2)

The standard criteria for body mass index are as follows;

 <18.5 - Underweight

 18.5- 25 - Normal/Healthy weight

 25-30 - Overweight

 >30 - Obese

According to the book Nutrition Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for

Planning Intervention, the following criteria indicate a potential problem needed follow

up:

 If a child’s weight-for-height is at the 5th percentile or below, that child

may be underweight (or wasted) and should be referred for further

assessment and counselling.

 If a child’s height-for-age is at the 5th percentile or below, that child is at

risk for linear growth retardation (or stunting) and needs to be evaluated

further.

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  If a child has a weight-for-height at the 95th percentile or above, that child

is overweight and possibly obese. A referral for further assessment and/or

counselling is required.

2.3 Related Studies

Other researchers also make a study about the nutritional status of a certain

population, but most of it is focusing on the country and provinces as a whole. According

to the research study entitled “Regional Study of Nutritional Status of Urban Primary

Schoolchildren. 1. Manila, Philippines”, that this study aims to provide baseline

information on the nutritional status of urban schoolchildren in order to examine the

emerging problem of overweight and obesity in this age group. The authors used 1,208

children of age 8-10 years old both from public and private schools in Manila, randomly.

The authors used anthropometric measurements such as the height, weight and

BMI of the children. Then, they used these value and numbers to get the indexes of

height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-height of the children. Using these indexes,

the authors identified the nutritional status of the urban primary schoolchildren. However,

according to the authors of this study, that using the World Health Organization (WHO)-

recommended cutoff points to define under and over nutrition gave contrasting results

when weight for- height and BMI were used. There appears to be a need to validate the

anthropometric reference standards and cutoff points in children and adolescents to better

define nutritional status and ascertain the influence of ethnicity.

The other study that is conducted in the Philippines is focused on the elderlies in

the urban places. The authors also concluded that in view of the very limited baseline

information for use in planning relevant programs for the promotion of the health,

nutrition and welfare of the elderly, an assessment is needed to evaluate the nutritional

studies in the population, specifically the elderlies. According to the authors of the study,

the study aims:

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 o Assess the nutritional status of the elderly using dietary and anthropometric

measurements;

o Describe the range of food habits affecting the nutritional/health status of the

elderly;

o Determine past and present food habits affecting the nutritional/health status

and food habits and;

o Examine the availability/adequacy of policies, programs and systems directed

towards promoting the nutritional welfare of the elderly in the Philippines.

According to the study, the authors of the study use 3 different approaches to

collect the information needed in assessing the nutritional status of the elderlies are

dietary assessment, anthropometric, and biochemical assessment. The respondents from

the community were determined based on a two-stage sampling design stratified

according to barangays in San Juan, Metro Manila.

The Food and Nutrition Research Institute was always conducting a survey on

how was the nutritional status on each of the life phases (infancy, pre-school age,

adolescence and aging). They always conduct the survey all around the Philippines every

two years. The survey that they conducting is very useful tool, because it can monitor and

track down the nutritional status of every Filipinos and they can plan an intervention to

slow down the malnutrition cases in the Philippines. With that, the government

administrations can test if the intervention programs that they implemented and applied

can do anything to improve the nutritional students. This institution used three different

approach to collect the information needed in assessing the nutritional status of the

elderlies are dietary assessment, anthropometric, and biochemical assessment.

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2.4 Hypothesis

Hypothesis01: Healthy eating can help children maintain a healthy weight.

Hypothesis02: Healthy diet has a profound effect on a child’s sense of mental and

emotional wellbeing.

Hypothesis03: Anthropometric measurements and dietary assessment can determine the

nutritional status of college students in BulSU.

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 2.5 Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable (IV) Dependent Variable (DV)

I. Respondent’s Profile

A. Age
B. Sex
C. Course
D. Year and section Nutritional Status of
II. Respondent’s Nutritional Bulacan State University
Status in terms of: Students
A. Height
B. Weight
C. BMI

III. Intervention Program

Figure 3: Conceptual Framework

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2.6 Definition of Terms

For clarity and understanding, the following terms are defined.

Anthropometric Measurements. Anthropometric measurements are used to

assess the size, shape and composition of the human body. It is used to evaluate both

under & over nutrition. The measured values reflect the current nutritional status of a

person or a population as a whole. Anthropometric measurements include height, weight,

and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Body Mass Index. BMI is a number/value calculated from a person’s height and

weight. It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to

screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems (CDC, 2000). The Body

Mass Index is the international standard for assessing body size in the adults. Body Mass

Index (BMI) is an anthropometric index of weight and height that is defined as body

weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (Keys et al., 1972).

Chronic Energy Deficiency. CED is defined as a "steady state" where an

individual is in energy balance, i.e. the energy intake equals the energy expenditure,

despite the low body weight and low body energy stores. Thus, by never growing to a

normal size or having experienced one or more stages of energy deficiency, the

individual has arrived at a reduced body weight with possibly limited physical activity,

which have allowed the energy demands of a lower basal metabolic rate (BMR) and

reduced amounts of activity to balance the lower intake.

Dietary Guidelines. It is a set of dietary guidelines based on eating pattern,

lifestyle, and health status of an individual. It contains all the nutrition messages for

different phase of life. Dietary guidelines are made based on the eating pattern, lifestyle,

and health/nutritional status of a certain country.

Malnutrition. Malnutrition refers to lack of proper nutrition, caused by not

having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things (nutrients), or being unable to

21
use the food that one does eat. (Cleary, 2007) Malnutrition refers to deficiencies,

excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. It covers two

broad groups of nutrition, under nutrition and over nutrition.

Nutritional Assessment. Nutritional assessment is the interpretation of

anthropometric, biochemical (laboratory), clinical and dietary data to determine whether

a person or groups of people are in a normal nutritional status and well-nourished or

malnourished (over-nourished or under-nourished). The purpose of doing a nutritional

assessment is to identify the nutritional status of a person or community and to somewhat

develop health care or intervention programs that can help a person or community to have

a normal nutritional status. Nutritional assessment can be done using the ABCD methods.

Nutritional Status. Nutritional status is the current condition or state of health of

a person that is influenced by the intake and utilization of nutrients. The nutritional status

of an individual is often the result of many inter-related factors. It is influenced by food

intake, quantity and quality, and physical health. The spectrum of nutritional status

spread from obesity to normal to severe malnutrition.

Obesity. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat

accumulation that may impair health. Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of

weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults.

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA’s). The amount of an essential

nutrient, as a vitamin or mineral, been established by the Food and Nutrition Board of

the National Academy of Sciences as adequate to meet the average daily nutritional

needs of most healthy persons according to age group and sex.

Stunting. It is a condition that can be determined based on height for-age index. It

means children with height below the standard for child’s age suffer from this condition.

It reflects chronic undernutrition or past nutritional status and is caused by prolonged

inadequate intake, recurrence of illness or improper feeding practices.

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 Underweight. It is an abnormal state resulting from the consumption of an

inadequate quantity of food over an extended period of time. It is manifested by

underweight, stunting or growth retardation, and in severe cases, clinical signs of

marasmus or kwashiorkor (2015 School Based Feeding Guideline).

Wasting. Also called Thinness, A condition where the child’s weight is lower

than that of a normal child of the same height. It is also a condition, in which individual’s

BMI-for-age fall between -2 to -3 z-score line. It is based on weight for-height index;

weight below the standard for child’s height; sensitive index of current nutritional status.

(FNRI.DOST, 2016 Regional Dissemination Forum)

23
 Notes in Chapter II

o Harris & Haboubi 2005. Malnutrition could be defined as a condition resulting from

an imbalance between nutrient needs and intake (Lowe et al., 1998). Change

children’s eating behavior using video based peer modeling.

o Nutritional Status of Grade Five Students in Selected School of Batticaloa District,

(2015) Sri Lanka. Bandura, 1992, Social Learning Theory

o Rosalinda S. Gibson. Principles of Nutritional Assessment. P. 256,

o Margaret D. Simko, Catherine Cowell, Judith A. Gilbride. Nutrition Assessment: A

Comprehensive Guide for Planning Intervention. P. 94

o Roberto Frisancho. Anthropometric Standards for the Assessment of Growth and

Nutritional Status. p. 1

o Johan Aberg. Dealing with Malnutrition: A Meal Planning System for Elderly, pg.2

o Appetite. Volume 68, September 1, 2013, Pages 139-146.

o Journal of Epidemiology. Volume 27, Issue 10, October 2017, Pages 483-491.

o Event Management Journal. Harvard. universityevents.harvard.edu

o Regional Study of Nutritional Status of Urban Primary Schoolchildren. 1. Manila,

Philippines. Rodolfo F. Florentino, Gracia M. Villavieja, and Ruby D. Laña.

o An Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Selected Filipino Urban Elderly. MPE de

Guzman, ZV. Narciso, RLana, M Adriano, CMagsaysay, J Magbitang and MRA

Pedro

24
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This chapter provided information relating to the methodological processes

followed throughout the study. It started with the discussion of the method research,

locale of the study, population and sampling techniques that were used, constructing the

instruments, the procedure of data collecting and plan for the data analysis. As a whole it

gave the general pattern for gathering and processing research data.

3.1 The Research Design

This study was designed to describe some factors that can help in determining the

nutritional status of the students in Bulacan State University. The type of research method

that will be used in this study is Quantitative research method. The researcher is focused

on collecting quantitative data that can help in the development of this study. The

researcher conducted two types of research design namely descriptive research design

and correlation research design.

Descriptive research design is a type of research use to obtain data that will

provide descriptions of the characteristics of the sample. The most common used research

instrument in this type of research design is questionnaires. On the other hand, correlation

research design is use to identify any patterns and nature of the relationship that exist

between the two variables and to measure the strength of the relationship. Both research

designs have no attempt to manipulate or control or interfere with the variables.

In gathering the data, the study used a survey method of research to acquire the

needed information to the sample. Through the questionnaires, the study was able to

gather data that will be of use in determining the nutritional status of the students in

Bulacan State University.

25
3.2 Locale of the Study

The study was conducted in Bulacan State University – Main Campus located at

MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Guinhawa, City of Malolos, Bulacan. Bulacan State

University is a state-funded institution of higher learning established in 1904, by the

virtue of ACT 74 of the Philippine Commission in 1901, as an intermediate school

established by the American regime, and converted into a chartered state university in

1993 by virtue of Republic Act 7665. This university has 14 colleges with number of

courses offered.

3.3 The Respondents

The population for this study was defined as the selected college students enrolled

in the different colleges of Bulacan State University of second semester of academic year

2017 - 2018. The researcher has chosen one hundred and forty (140) random students per

college in the university to act as the respondents for this study. All the participants were

chosen from the selected colleges of Bulacan State University.

Table 1: Sample size of students per college in Bulacan State University

No. of colleges in Bulacan State University (N) No. of respondents per college (n)

14 10

Total: 140 respondents

26
3.4 Development of Research Instrument

Different instruments were modified and combined to make a questionnaire

package to assess the information that was needed in the development of the present

study. The questionnaire package was consisted of four sections namely:

Demographic Questionnaire

A Demographic Questionnaire was made to assess the demographic variables

needed in the study. It was used for documenting the characteristics of the sample and for

framing some supplemental analysis. Demographics are characteristics of a population.

More specifically, the questionnaire included questions on the respondent’s profile, like

name (optional), age, sex, college and year level.

Nutritional Status Questionnaire

Nutritional status questionnaire was made to assess the nutritional status needed

in the development of the study. It was used for documenting the anthropometric

measurements and formulating analysis from it. Nutritional status questionnaire will

include anthropometric measurements that will assess the height, weight and body mass

index of a person.

Intervention Program Survey

Intervention program survey was made to determine and analyze on what actions

or intervention programs can be created to address nutritional problems, give awareness,

as well as information, to the students and to design a suitable programs that can lessen

the nutritional problems present in the university.

27
3.5 Data Collecting Procedure

The administration of the instruments will take place in Bulacan State University.

Letters of request will be sent to the Dean’s Office of the different colleges to ask

permission in conducting the study. After the approval of the request, the researcher will

then proceeded in random distribution of the questionnaire in every college in Bulacan

State University.

The researcher will then search for random students in every college who have a

free time to answer the questionnaire, for them to be not interrupted if their class. Before

administering the questionnaire, the researcher will give a brief orientation or information

about the general purpose of the research for them to have an idea and be aware about the

questionnaire that they are going to answer. Since one part of the questionnaires will

include body measurements like height and weight, the researcher will bring a weighing

scale and meter stick. It will be of great use for the respondents in answering their

questionnaires if they are not sure or if they don’t know their respective measurements.

The researchers waited for all of the questionnaires to be completed. The

estimated time in answering the questionnaire will take at least 10 minutes to complete.

The researcher can also provide an online survey for other students if they don’t have the

time to answer the questionnaire in the university. The researcher will ensure anonymity

of participants and confidentiality about all the data that will be collected in the online

survey. The information that will be obtaining from the participants will be use.

The researcher will also use some data and information from the official website

of Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology

(FNRI-DOST), like the 2016 Regional Dissemination of Nutritional Situation of the

Philippines, as well as Central Luzon. The researcher also used the 8th National Nutrition

Survey Anthropometric Survey Facts and Figures (2013) that can help in analyzing facts

and figures to determine the nutritional status of the Bulacan State University students.

These data and information was useful for the researcher because these data can serve as

28
a guide in the process of conducting a survey to determine nutritional status, in a way that

the researcher can include essential information like the appropriate standard of height

and weight among adolescents and adults.

3.6 Data Process

The data that will be gathered through the use research instrument are going to be

organized and process according to the problems presented in the study. The following

steps will have been taken to analyze the data.

3.6.1 Statistical Treatment and Data Analysis

Body mass index (BMI) will be computed using height and weight of a given

individual. The adolescent men and women that will be studied were going to be

categorized into one of the three groups. The first one is the underweight (BMI = ≤ 18.5),

the second one is overweight (BMI = ≥ 24) and normal/healthy (BMI = 18.4 – 23.9).

 Formula used in computing the Body Mass Index(BMI):

BMI = (weight in kg/height in metre2)

The standard criteria for body mass index are as follows;

 <18.5 - Underweight

 18.5- 25 - Normal/Healthy weight

 25-30 - Overweight

 >30 - Obese

29
 The following criteria indicate a potential problem needed follow up:

 If a child’s weight-for-height is at the 5th percentile or below, that child

may be underweight (or wasted) and should be referred for further

assessment and counselling.

 If a child’s height-for-age is at the 5th percentile or below, that child is at

risk for linear growth retardation (or stunting) and needs to be evaluated

further.

 If a child has a weight-for-height at the 95th percentile or above, that child

is overweight and possibly obese. A referral for further assessment and/or

counselling is required.

The mean of grouped data for height and weight will be computed using the

Midpoint Method. The midpoint of each class interval will be taken as a representative of

each class (x). Then, the corresponding frequencies (f) of each midpoint will be then

multiplied by these midpoints (x). The products are then added (∑fx) and the sum will be

divided by the total number of frequencies, or respondents (n) on this matter. The value

obtained is considered the mean of the grouped data.

 Formula used in computing the mean for grouped data using the Midpoint

Method:

∑𝑓𝑥
x̅̅ = 𝑛

where:

x̅̅ -- mean

f -- Frequency of each class

x -- Midpoint of each class

n -- Total frequency or sample size

∑fx -- sum of the products of each midpoint and its

corresponding frequency

30
 The prevalence of these forms of malnutrition will be calculated by measuring the

presence of malnutrition in a sample of the population selected randomly, then dividing

the number of people with that form of malnutrition by the number of people in whom it

was measured. Prevalence is often expressed as a percentage.

 Formula used in computing the prevalence of malnutrition (undernutrition or

over nutrition):

𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

(𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
x 100 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 (𝑎𝑠 %)
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

31
 Notes in Chapter III

List of Materials:

o Official Website of Food and Nutrition Research Institute:

http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph

o Research and Technical Writing.

o Tandon, Anil. 2010. Research Methodology, Methods and Techniques.

o Jha, Avdhesh S. 2011. Research Methodology.

o Basic Nutrition for Filipinos. Fourth Edition. 1996

o Nutrition for Health and Health Care. Third Edition. Whitney, Debruyne, Pinna

Rolfes.

o Assessment of Student Learning 1. A.G. Ignacio, M.L. Santos. 2017

32
 CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents the results of the study. This chapter discusses the data

analysis and findings from 97 questionnaires completed by Bulacan State University

college students. The purpose of this data gathering, analysis, presentation and

interpretation was to identify the nutritional status of Bulacan State University Students.

Out of one hundred (100) questionnaires randomly distributed in the different

colleges of Bulacan State University, only ninety-seven (97) completed questionnaires

was responded and returned. The study will cover ninety-seven (97) respondents and the

collected questionnaires from these respondents are going to be the basis for computing,

analyzing and interpreting the results.

4.1 Demographic Data

This section of the data will cover the respondent’s profile like age, gender, year

level. This data will also include the respondent’s anthropometric measurements like the

height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Even if the profiles of the respondents are not

the main focus of the study, this information can be of use to contextualize the findings of

the study. On the other hand, the anthropometric measurements of the respondents are the

data that will be used a lot in the study, to identify the nutritional status of Bulacan State

University students.

The different tables below show that the allocation of questionnaires to various

groups was in no way influenced by bias. It was a true reflection of the researcher’s

impartiality in the distribution of questionnaires.

33
 Age

The Bulacan State University students that we used as a sample for the study, has

an age that ranges from seventeen to twenty-six (17-26) years old. The researcher

grouped the age with the breakdown of 5 classes with an index of 2.

Table 2: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s age, grouped.

Age f %

18-19 20 20.62 %
20-21 60 61.86 %
22-23 13 17.53 %
24-25 4 4.12 %

Total 97 100 %

The percentage in the Table 2 shows that the allocation of questionnaires to

various groups was in no way influenced by bias. It was a true reflection of the

researcher’s impartiality in the distribution of questionnaires.

The table above shows the age categories of subjects who took part in the

completion of the questionnaires. The highest percentage of the Bulacan State University

students (61.86%) indicated they were between 20 and 21 years of age, which means

majority of the respondents have an age that ranges from 20 and 21 years old. Next to it

was the age that ranges from 18 and 19 years old, having 20.62% of the total respondents,

while the age that ranges from 22 and 23 years old have 13.40% of the total respondents.

The ages that range from 24-25 have 4.12% of the total respondents.

34
 Sex

Both male and female students from the Bulacan State University participated in

the study.

Table 3: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s gender

Sex f %

Male 47 48.45 %
Female 50 51.55 %

Total 97 100 %

As seen in Table 3, the highest percentage of the Bulacan State University

students (51.55 %) indicated that they were female, which means that majority of the

respondents are female. While male on the other hand have 48.45 % of the total

respondents.

Year Level

Students from 2nd, 3rd and 4th year level of the Bulacan state University are the

respondents that covered the study. The table below shows the allocation of the year level

of the respondents.

Table 4: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s year level

Year Level f %

2nd Year 21 21.65 %

3rd Year 47 48.45 %
4th Year 29 29.90 %

Total 97 100 %

35
 Displayed on the Table 4 is the profile of the respondents in terms of age. The

data revealed that the 3rd Year (48.45 %) has the highest percentage among the year

levels, which means that majority of the respondents, are in their 3rd year college. Next to

it is the 4th Year, having 29.90 % of the total respondents and 3rd Year, having 21.65 % of

the total respondents.

There are no data gathered from 1st year level, because there are only limited

students enrolled in the university (S.Y. 2017-2018) which is the cause of the

implementation of K-12 curriculum.

College

Since the researcher aims to identify the nutritional status of the Bulacan State

University students, the researcher tries to gather data and information from the

respondents in every colleges of Bulacan State University.

Table 5: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s respective colleges

College f %
College of Information and Communication Technology 8 8.25 %
College of Industrial Technology 4 4.12 %
College of Nursing 3 3.09 %
College of Education 11 11.34 %
College of Home Economics 3 3.09 %
College of Arts and Letters 8 8.25 %
College of Science 16 16.49 %
College of Architecture and Fine Arts 4 4.12 %
College of Engineering 11 11.34 %
College Social Sciences and Philosophy 8 8.25 %
College of Business Administration 6 6.19 %
College of Physical Education, Recreation Sports 3 3.09 %
College of Criminal Justice Education 6 6.19 %
College of Law 6 6.19 %

Total 97 100 %

36
 Showcased in Table 5 that the highest percentage of the respondents (16.49 %)

indicated that they were from College of Science, which means that majority of the

respondents of this study, are from College of Science. Next to it is the College of

Education and College of Engineering, both having 11.34 5 of the total respondents. It

was then followed by College of Information and Communication Technology, College

of Arts and Letters, and College of Social Sciences and Philosophy having 8.25 % of the

respondents, College of Business Administration, College of Criminal Justice Education

and College of Law having 6.19 % of the total respondents, College of Industrial

Technology and College of Architecture and Fine Arts both having 4.12 % of the

respondents and College of Nursing, College of Home Economics and College of

Physical Education, Recreation Sports having 3.09 % of the total respondents.

Height

The Bulacan State University students that researcher used as a sample for the

study, has a height that ranges from 141 centimeters as the smallest and 190 centimeters

being the highest. The researcher grouped the height with a breakdown of ten classes

with an index of five.

Table 6: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s height, grouped.

Height (cm.) f %
141-145 1 1.03 %
146-150 5 5.16 %
151-155 13 13.40 %
156-160 24 24.74 %
161-165 18 18.56 %
166-170 24 24.74 %
171-175 8 8.25 %
176-180 2 2.06 %
181-185 1 1.03 %
186-190 1 1.03 %

Total 97 100 %

37
 The Table 6 shows that the highest percentage of the Bulacan State University

students (24.74 %) indicated they were 156-160 and 166-170 centimeters, which means

majority of the respondents of this study, have a height range between 156-160 and 166-

170 centimeters. Next to it is the height that ranges from 161-165 centimeters, having

18.56 % of the respondents, followed by the height that ranges from 151-155 centimeters

covering 13.40 % of the respondents, while 8.25 % of the respondents coming from the

height range of 171-175 centimeters, 5.16 % of the respondents from the height range of

146-150 centimeters, 2.06 % of the respondents coming from the height range of 176-180

centimeters and height ranges of 141-145, 181-185 and 186-190 centimeters having the

same 1.03 % of the respondents.

Weight

The respondents that researcher used as a sample for the study, has a weight that

ranges from 36 kilograms as the smallest and 90 being the highest. The researcher

grouped the weight with a breakdown of eleven classes with an index of five.

Table 7: Frequency and percentage of the respondent’s weight, grouped.

Weight (kg.) f %

36-40 2 2.06 %
41-45 9 9.28 %
46-50 22 22.68 %
51-55 18 18.56 %
56-60 17 17.53 %
61-65 12 12.37 %
66-70 6 6.19 %
71-75 2 2.06 %
76-80 2 2.06 %
81-85 4 4.12 %
86-90 3 3.09 %

Total 97 100 %

38
 It is showcased in Table 7 the following frequency distribution of the grouped

data of weight and it’s percentage out of the total respondents. The weight group that

ranges 46-50 kilograms is the one that has the highest frequency out of all the grouped

weight with 22.68 % out of the total respondents, which means that majority of the

respondents, has a weight that ranges around 46 and 50 kilograms. Furthermore, the

weight that ranges from 51-55 kilograms has the second highest frequency distribution

with 18.56 % out of the total respondents, followed by 56-60 kilograms with 17.53 % out

of the total respondents. On the other hand, the weight range 61-65 kilograms have

12.37% of the respondents, 41-45 kilograms have 9.28 % of the respondents, 66-70

kilograms have 6.19 % of the respondents, 81-85 kilograms have 4.12 % of the

respondents and 86-90 % of the respondents. Meanwhile, weight ranges 36-40, 71-75 and

76-80 has the same percentage, having 2.06 % of the respondents and the lowest

percentage among the collected data in weight.

4.2 Nutritional Status Data

On this part, the data that will be presented will be the center and focus of the

study and it will be of great use for the success of the study. The data will include the

mean height, weight and body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of the different

nutritional status present at the study.

Mean Height and Weight

The researcher presented the data of mean height and weight by year level and by

sex. It will be shown in the Table 8 the mean height and weight on each year level. The

researcher adds up the entire respondents height and weight on each year separately and

then divided its total to its respective number of values in the distribution to get the mean

height and weight of each year level.

39
 Table 8: Mean height and weight of the BulSU students, by year level and by gender.

Male Female Both Sex

Year Level n Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean Mean
Weight Height Weight Height Weight Weight
(kg) (cm) (kg) (cm) (kg) (cm)

2nd Year 21 60.18 166.18 49.7 158.5 55.19 162.52

3rd Year 47 65.05 169.05 53.57 157.96 58.21 162.45

4th Year 29 61.24 166.82 52.0 158.25 57.41 163.28

All 97 62.53 167.57 52.42 158.14 57.32 162.71

As showcased in Table 8, the male respondents in 3rd Year level has the highest

average weight (65.05 kg.) compared to 2nd (60.18 kg.) and 4th (61.24 kg.) year level. The

highest average weight in terms of female respondents is also in their 3rd Year level. On

the other hand, the average weight for 2nd year is 49.7 kg. and for 3rd year are 52.0 kg.,

which is smaller compare to the average weight of 3rd year respondents. In terms of

height, 3rd year male respondents also has the highest rate of height, compared to 2nd year

that has 166.18 cm. and 3rd year that has 166.82 cm height. In addition to this, the highest

average height from female respondents is from 2nd year level (158.5 cm.), which is only

.25 cm. higher than those in 4th year level, while respondents from 3rd year has the

average height of 157.96 cm.

As shown also in Table 8, male students from 3rd year level are on average taller

and heavier than those students from 2nd and 4th year level. Moreover, the results of

average weight on female students from 3rd year level are also heavier compare to the

other two year levels, which is the same as the results from male students except from

height. Female students from 3rd year level have an average height of 157.96 centimeters,

which is the smallest in comparison to the other year levels.

40
 The average height and weight of male respondents, in comparison with female’s

average height and weight is higher, regardless of their year level (Table 8). In the overall

respondents, regardless of the year level, the computed average height in male

respondents is 167.57cm., while the computed average height in female respondents is

158.14. On the other hand, average weight of male (62.53 kg.) is higher than the average

weight of female respondents (52.42 kg.).

Meanwhile, in both sex combined, the highest mean weight is still visible in the

respondents in 3rd year level (58.21 kg.), followed by 4th year level with 57.41 kg. and 2nd

year level with 55.19 kg. It means that respondents from 3rd year level have the average

weight that is heavier compared to 2nd and 4th year level. On the other hand, mean height

in both sexes has a contiguous value from each other. The 2nd year level has the highest

average height with 162.52 cm., followed by 3rd year level with 162.45 cm. and 4th year

level with 162.28 cm. The mean height of BulSU students, both male and female,

continued to increase with year level, as expected. Overall, the average weight of the

respondents is 57.32 kilograms while the average height of the respondents is 162.71

centimeters.

Mean Body Mass Index (BMI)

The researcher presented the data of mean body mass index by year level and it

also presented the percentage of each nutritional status by year level. It will be shown in

the Table 8 the mean body mass index on each year level. The researcher adds up the

entire respondents body mass index (BMI) on each year separately and then divided its

total to its respective number of values in the distribution to get the mean body mass

index (BMI) of each year level.

41
Table 9: Mean body mass index (BMI), percentage distribution of nutritional status

among BulSU students, by gender and year level.

BMI (%)
Variable n Mean
BMI Underweight* Normal Overweight Obese

ALL 97 21.23 24.74 58.76 14.43 2.06

Gender

Male 47 21.89 17.02 63.83 17.02 2.13

50 20.6 32 54 12 2
Female

Year Level

2nd Year 21 20.81 33.3 57.14 9.52 -

3rd Year 47 21.53 17.02 63.83 17.02 2.18

4th Year 29 21.03 31.03 51.72 13.79 3.45

70%
64%
59% 57%
60%
52%
50%

40%
33%
31%
30% 25%

20% 17% 17%

14% 14%
10%
10%
2% 4%
2%
0%
ALL 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year

Underweight Normal/Healthy Overweight Obese

Figure 4: Prevalence of nutritional status among BulSU students, by year level.

42
 70% 64%
59%
60% 54%
50%

40%
32%
30% 25%
22%
20% 17%
14%
12%
10%
2% 2% 2%
0%
Underweight Normal/Healthy Overweight Obese

Female Male Combined

Figure 5: Prevalence of nutritional status among BulSU students, by gender.

As displayed in Table 9, the highest average body mass index (BMI) among the

year level is from 3rd year level respondents with 21.53, which can be interpreted as

Normal/Healthy. Next to it is the 4th year level respondents having 21.03, followed by 2nd

year level respondents having 20.81, and both of these can be interpreted also as

Normal/Healthy. It is also shown that there are no much difference between the values of

mean body mass index (BMI) among the year level, all of it was around 20-21 and are

interpreted as Normal/Healthy. The overall average body mass index (BMI) of the total

respondents, regardless of sex and year level, is 21.23, which can also be interpreted as

Normal/Healthy.

Among the respondents, as displayed in Table 9, undernutrition was a more

prominent problem than overnutrition. Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED),

which is indicative of undernutrition among adults, was higher than overweight and

obese rates combined. Among the following respondents, 24.74 percent where

underweight or chronic energy deficient (CED) and it was common among females

(32%) than in males (17.02); while 14.43 percent of the total respondents were

overweight and it was seen more among male than female at 17.02 percent and 12

percent, respectively. On the other hand, 2.06 percent of the respondents said that they

43
were obese, and both sexes have the same rate of obesity, around 2 percent.

Normal/healthy nutritional status, on the other hand, claimed the highest percentage

among the nutritional status, having more than half of the total respondents (58.76 %) and

being more common among males (63.83 %) than in females (54%). Overall, both sex’s

average body mass index is interpreted as Normal/Healthy, with 21.89 percent among the

males and 20.6 among the females.

As displayed in Table 9, respondents from 2nd year level has the highest

percentage of underweight compared to the other year levels, having 33.3 percent of the

total respondents; followed by 4th year level with 31.03 percent and 3rd year level with

17.02 percent. Moreover, 4th year level reached the highest percentage of Normal/Healthy

status, having 63.83 percent of the total respondents; next to it is 2nd year level having

57.14 percent and 4th year level having 51.72 percent of the respondents. Meanwhile, in

the terms of prevalence of overweight among the respondents, 3rd year level has majority

of cases of overweight, having 17.02 percent of the respondents, which has the same

prevalence as the underweight on the same year level: followed by 13.79 percent among

4th year level and 9.52 percent among the 2nd year level.

Using the year level, as shown in Figure 4, as the basis of presenting and

interpreting the data among the respondents, undernutrition was also a more prominent

problem than overnutrition. Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED), which is

indicative of undernutrition among adults, was higher than overweight and obese rates

combined. Undernutrition and overnutrition is both observed among the year level in

Figure 4 but undernutrition is higher than overnutrition (overweight and obese,

combined).Respondents from 2nd year level had the highest rates for underweight

compared to other year levels; while respondents from 3rd year level had the lowest rates

for underweight but had the highest rates for overweight, in which both had 17 percent.

Respondents from 4th year level had the highest rate for obesity ompared to the other two

year levels.

44
 Using the sex on the other hand, as shown in Figure 5, as the basis of presenting

and interpreting the data among the respondents, undernutrition was also a more

prominent problem than overnutrition. Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency (CED),

which is indicative of undernutrition among adults, was higher than overweight and

obese rates combined. Undernutrition and overnutrition is both observed among the year

level in Figure 5 but undernutrition is higher than overnutrition (overweight and obese,

combined). Female respondents had the highest prevalence rate of underweight compared

to male respondents; while male respondents had the highest prevalence rate of

overweight compared to female respondents. Both respondents had an equal prevalence

rate of obesity, having 2 percent of the total respondents.

Nutritional Status
2%

14%
25%

Underweight
Normal/Healthy
Overweight
Obese

59%

Figure 6: Percentage distribution of nutritional status among BulSU students.

45
 Based on the data gathered from the respondents, as showcased in Figure 6,

majority of the BulSU students indicated that their nutritional status is Normal/Healthy,

and that it occupies more than half of the total respondents. It means that 6 out of 10

Bulsuans had a normal/healthy nutritional status. In terms of prevalence of malnutrition

among the Bulacan State University students, undernutrition had a higher prevalence rate

compared to the prevalence rate of overnutrition, overweight and obese combined.

Prevalence of underweight among the BulSU students occupies 25 percent of the total

number of respondents, which means that one-fourth (¼) of the Bulsuans had an

underweight nutritional status. 14 percent of the respondents indicated that they had

overweight as a nutritional status, which means 14 out of 100 respondents had a case of

overweight as a nutritional status. Moreover, out of 100 percent, only 2 percent has a

recorded nutritional status of obesity, which means that 2 out of 100 Bulsuans are at risk

of being obese.

4.3 Intervention Programs Data

On this part, the data that will be presented will be the center and focus of the

study and it will be of great use for the success of the study. Listed below are the

following intervention programs data that was collected from the respondents, with their

specific frequency distribution and percentage. These intervention programs can be

crafted to address the problems in nutrition of the Bulacan State University college

students.

The respondents were given the chance to choose any intervention programs that

they think the Bulacan State University should crafted to address the problems in

nutrition of the Bulacan State University college students. The following data was a true

reflection of the researcher’s impartiality in the distribution of questionnaires.

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 Intervention Program Survey

Intervention Programs

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Raising awareness on Eating Disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia and how they can be prevented

A stage play about Healthy Lifestyle

Control and Limitations of stalls that sell junk foods

Monthly Track of Health Record

Cafeteria System

Guidance/ Counseling

Seminars/ Meetings addressing the nutritional problems of BulSU students

Feeding Program

Adding Nutrition Education subject/course in curriculum of every college

Figure 7: Frequency distributions of intervention programs that the respondents had

picked.

Majority of the respondents (71 out of 97 respondents), as shown in Figure 7,

indicates that conducting seminars/meetings can help to address the nutritional problems

that some of the BulSU students are facing; while 60 out of 97 respondents says that

raising awareness on eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia), and how they can

be prevented, can help to address nutritional problems among BulSU students. Next to it,

59 out of 97 respondents believed that having a control and limitation among the stalls

that sell junk foods can help lessen the nutritional problems and prevent BulSU students

from having nutritional and health problems. On the other hand, 50 out of 97 respondents

indicates that adding Nutrition Education subject/course in curriculum of every college

can raise awareness among BulSU students about the basic knowledge in Nutrition

47
Education that they should know; while 49 out of 97 respondents says that having a

monthly track of health record can help the students be aware and monitor their health

and nutritional status; next to it, 47 out of 97 respondents says that having a cafeteria

system inside the university can help maintain health by eating planned meals; while 31

out of 97 respondents, indicates that giving students guidance and counselling about

health an help them to be aware and inform. 29 out of 97 respondents, on the other hand,

says that conducting a feeding program inside the university can help students with

underweight nutritional status to gain weight and achieve normal and healthy nutritional

status; while 20 out of 97 respondents indicates that presenting a stage play about healthy

lifestyle can help the students to be aware and inform on how to achieve healthy lifestyle.

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 Notes in Chapter IV

o Official Website of Food and Nutrition Research Institute:

http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph

o Basic Nutrition for Filipinos. Fourth Edition. 1996

o Nutrition for Health and Health Care. Third Edition. Whitney, Debruyne, Pinna

Rolfes.

o Assessment of Student Learning 1. A.G. Ignacio, M.L. Santos. 2017

o Baccay, C.R. D, Robles, M., Centeno, M. (2015). Factors Affecting Career

Indecision Among Freshmen and Shifter Students of Bulacan State University

o http://enutrition.fnri.dost.gov.ph/site/presentations/central-luzon-results-for-

double-burden-of-malnutrition/

o Regional Study of Nutritional Status of Urban Primary Schoolchildren. 1. Manila,

Philippines. Rodolfo F. Florentino, Gracia M. Villavieja, and Ruby D. Laña.

o An Assessment of the Nutritional Status of Selected Filipino Urban Elderly. MPE

de Guzman, ZV. Narciso, RLana, M Adriano, CMagsaysay, J Magbitang and

MRA Pedro

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 CHAPTER V

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents a general discussion or summary based on the findings and

conclusions found in the result of the study. This part also contains the implications and

recommendations for future research and practice.

5.1 General Discussions

The purpose of the current study is to conduct a survey to determine the current

nutritional status of Bulacan State University students using anthropometric

measurements like height, weight and body mass index (BMI). In particular, this study

computed the mean height, mean weight, mean body mass index (BMI), alongside with

the percentage and prevalence rate of the nutritional status of the BulSU students. The

type of research method that will be used in this study is Quantitative research method.

The researcher is focused on collecting quantitative data that can help in the development

of this study.

The researcher will also use some data and information from the official website

of Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology

(FNRI-DOST) that can help in determining the nutritional status of the Bulacan State

University students. The study uses the data of height and weight to compute for the body

mass index (BMI). The percentage and prevalence rate of the nutritional status was

showed by year level, by gender and by combined/all respondents.

5.2 Summary of Findings

5.2.1 Profile of the Respondents

Age

The highest percentage of the Bulacan State University students (61.86%)

indicated they were between 20 and 21 years of age, which means majority of the

respondents have an age that ranges from 20 and 21 years old. The ages that range from

50
24-25 have 4.12% of the total respondents, which had the lowest percentage rate among

the age ranges.

Sex

The highest percentage of the Bulacan State University students (51.55 %)

indicated that they were female, which means that majority of the respondents are female.

While male on the other hand have 48.45 % of the total respondents.

Year Level

The data revealed that the 3rd Year (48.45 %) has the highest percentage among

the year levels, which means that majority of the respondents, are in their 3rd year college.

Respondents from 3rd Year, having 21.65 % of the total respondents, had the lowest

percentage rates among the year level.

There are no data gathered from 1st year level, because there are only limited

students enrolled in the university (S.Y. 2017-2018) which is the cause of the

implementation of K-12 curriculum.

College

The highest percentage of the respondents (16.49 %) indicated that they were

from College of Science, which means that majority of the respondents of this study, are

from College of Science. The lowest percentage rate is from College of Nursing, College

of Home Economics and College of Physical Education, Recreation Sports, all of it

having 3.09 % of the total respondents.

5.2.2 Anthropometric Measurements

Height

The highest percentage of the Bulacan State University students (24.74 %)

indicated they were 156-160 and 166-170 centimeters, which means majority of the

respondents of this study, have a height range between 156-160 and 166-170 centimeters.

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Height ranges of 141-145, 181-185 and 186-190 centimeters, has the lowest percentage

rates, all of it having the same 1.03 % of the respondents.

The highest mean height for male is from 3rd year level; while the other two year

levels both have contiguous average height. In terms of the highest mean height for

females, 2nd year level is more higher compared to the other two, but the interval among

the year level’s mean height was contiguous. On the mean height for both sexes, 4th year

level claimed the position of having the highest mean height, but the mean weight among

the year level is contiguous.

On the overall results of the study, it indicated that Bulacan State University

female students has an average height of 158.14 centimeters; while male students on the

hand, has an average height of 167.57 centimeters. The overall average height of both

female and male students is 162.71 centimeters.

Weight

The weight group that ranges 46-50 kilograms is the one that has the highest

frequency out of all the grouped weight with 22.68 % out of the total respondents, which

means that majority of the respondents, has a weight that ranges around 46 and 50

kilograms. Meanwhile, weight ranges 36-40, 71-75 and 76-80 has the same percentage,

having 2.06 % of the respondents and the lowest percentage among the collected data in

weight.

The highest mean weight for both male and female are from 3rd year level and the

lowest mean weight for both sexes are from 2nd year level. On the mean weight of both

sexes, 3rd year level had the highest mean weight and 2nd year level had the lowest mean

weight; while on the both sexes, 3rd year level has the highest mean weight and 2nd year

has the lowest mean weight.

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 On the overall results of the study, it indicated that Bulacan State University

female students has an average weight of 52.42 kilograms; while male students on the

hand, has an average weight of 62.53 kilograms. The overall average weight of both

female and male students is 57.32 kilograms.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

The highest average body mass index (BMI) among the year level is from 3 rd year

level respondents with 21.53, which can be interpreted as Normal/Healthy. The lowest

average body mass index is from 2nd year level respondents having 20.81, which can be

interpreted also as Normal/Healthy. The overall average body mass index (BMI) of the

total respondents, regardless of sex and year level, is 21.23, which can also be interpreted

as Normal/Healthy.

On the overall results of the study, it indicated that Bulacan State University

female students has an average body mass index of 20.6, which can be interpreted as a

healthy nutritional status; while male students on the hand, has an average body mass

index of 21.89, which can also be interpreted as a healthy nutritional status. The overall

average body mass index of both female and male students is 21.23, which makes the

average body mass index of the BulSU students as a normal and healthy nutritional

status.

5.2.2 Prevalence of Malnutrition

Bulacan State University students, on which the researcher used as respondents

for the study, suffered from both faces of malnutrition (undernutrition and overnutrition).

Undernutrition, such as being at risk of underweight and wasting, shows a huge

prevalence on the overall results of the study having 24.74 percent of the total

respondents. Overnutrition on the other hand, also shows an observable prevalence on the

overall result of nutritional status of the respondents, with 14.43 percent.

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Undernutrition

Respondents from 2nd year level have the highest percentage of underweight

compared to the other year levels, having 33.3 percent of the total respondents; while

respondents from 3rd year level has the lowest prevalence of underweight, having 17.02

percent. It only means that based on this result, majority of the respondents who are at

risk of wasting or underweight are from 2nd year level.

Among the following respondents, 24.74 percent where underweight or chronic

energy deficient (CED) and it was common among females (32 percent) than in males

(17.02 percent). Female respondents in Bulacan State University appeared to be at greater

risk of suffering from the different forms of undernutrition than male respondents.

Undernutrition had a higher prevalence rate compared to the prevalence rate of

overnutrition, overweight and obese combined. Prevalence of underweight among the

BulSU students occupies 25 percent of the total number of respondents, which means that

one-fourth (¼) of the respondents had an underweight nutritional status.

Overnutrition

In the terms of prevalence of overweight among the respondents, 3rd year level

has majority of cases of overweight, having 17.02 percent of the respondents, which has

the same prevalence as the underweight on that same year level; while 9.52 percent

among the 2nd year level has the lowest percentage rate of overweight. In terms of

prevalence of obesity among the respondents, both 3rd and 4th year level has the same

number of cases of obesity; while 2nd year level on the other hand has no case of obesity

recorded.

Among the following respondents, 14.43 percent of the total respondents were

overweight and it was seen more among male than female at 17.02 percent and 12

percent, respectively. On the other hand, 2.06 percent of the respondents said that they

were obese, and both sexes have the same case and rate of obesity, around 2 percent.

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Male respondents in Bulacan State University appeared to be at greater risk of suffering

from the different forms of overnutrition than male respondents.

Fourteen percent (14 %) of the respondents indicated that they had overweight as

a nutritional status, which means 14 out of 100 respondents had a case of overweight as a

nutritional status. Moreover, out of 100 percent, only 2 percent has a recorded nutritional

status of obesity, which means that 2 out of 100 respondents are at risk of being obese.

5.3 Conclusions

The results of the survey determine the nutritional status of the Bulacan State

University students using anthropometric measurements like weight; height and body

mass index (BMI) presented in this dissertation leads to the following conclusions:

 More than half of the respondents (60 percent) are fortunately assessed to be

in normal and healthy nutritional state while the rest of the respondents (40

percent) are at risk of malnutrition. It means that prevalence of malnutrition is

evident among the respondents.

 Undernutrition, such as being at risk of underweight and wasting, shows a

huge prevalence on the overall results of the study compared to overnutrition

and more likely to affect female respondents than male respondents. It means

that female is more likely to be at risk of Anorexia Nervosa.

 Overnutrition on the other hand, also shows an observable prevalence on the

overall result of nutritional status of the respondents, which is more likely to

affect males than females. In conclusion, male respondents are more potential

of being overweight and obese.

 Year level with the highest prevalence of undernourished respondents was

evident in 2nd year and 4th year level; while the highest percentage of

overnourished respondents was observable in 3rd and 4th year level.

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 Therefore, 4th year level has the most malnourished cases in comparison with

the other two year levels.

 Almost half percent of the total respondents have a nutritional problem and

are at risk of malnutrition.

These results only imply that the university admin should be aware of the

nutritional problems that the BulSU students are facing and for that reason, this situation

calls for crafting of plans and actions addressing these nutritional and health problems.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the given conclusion, the following recommendations are set and listed.

1. Since more than fifty percent of the respondents are nutritionally assessed as normal

and healthy, it is recommended for them to stick to their natural lifestyle and to

slightly improve their diet.

2. Prevalence of undernutrition is higher and more evident in female respondents

compared to male respondents, because female are more dissatisfied with almost all

aspects of their bodies than male. It is suggested for the university to create programs

and student activities that will help in raising the awareness on eating disorders like

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia and ways to prevent it.

3. Overnutrition shows a slight prevalence on the overall results, but still evident in the

over-all results of nutritional status. Creating and presenting a stage play about

healthy lifestyle can help inform the students on how to avoid unhealthy lifestyles

like eating of junk foods and fast foods.

4. The students should have a monthly track of record so that they can watch over their

health throughout the time of their stay in the university.

5. Since almost half percent of the respondents are at risk of malnutrition, conducting

seminars and meeting addressing the nutritional problems among BulSU students can

help; the students be informed of the nutritional problems and help the university to

craft a program that will lessen the nutritional problems of the BulSU students.

56