Objective: To determine and compare the quality of life, nutritional status, and self-perceived body image between nutrition students and students from other careers from the University Santo Tomás-Viña del Mar.
Methods: We evaluated 200 student volunteers (100 nutrition students and 100 students from other careers) with a quality of life survey, a nutritional evaluation, and a survey of body image perception.
Results: The group of nutritional students perceived a lower quality of life, consumed less tobacco, and was less sedentary. Women of the nutritional group had a lower BMI and showed a lower hip circumference. Men of the nutritional group also showed a lower hip circumference. The nutritional group consumed more milk, chicken, and fish in their diet. Both groups presented an elevated consumption of alcohol. The concordance between BMI and body image was low, 34% in the nutritional group and 38% in the other careers group (Kappa 0.04 and 0.02).
Conclusion: With respect to perception of quality of life, students from other careers perceived a better quality of life, however students from the nutritional group presented better nutritional status and selection of food.