This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out on a random sample of students, during Open Days in 2016. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of students on food were assessed using a structured questionnaire; the weight status evaluated using the body mass index classification of the World Health Organization (2006), the diet by the 24h recall method. Epi Infos 7.2.1.0 was used for data analysis, the confidence interval used 95%, P-value <5%. The study describes the weight status, knowledge, attitudes and eating habits of students at the University of Dschang in Cameroon. Out of 292 participants, the knowledge of the students, it emerges that eating is an essential act for: survival (58.86%) and health (26.88%); meanwhile 73.19% know that a diet must be varied. The first source of information on nutrition was school (30.04%) and 60.22% considered themselves to be well informed. According to 41.43%, cooking one’s food enables healthy feeding and 51.25%rated themselves as eating balance. 65.41% practiced diversified diet against 34.59%. Regarding weight status, 64.73% normal; 28.77% overweight; 5.14% obesity and 0.34% morbid obesity. The study found limited access to information on diet and high proportions of overweight and obesity among students. We recommend the implementation of a healthy eating promotion program at the Dschang University Center.
Keywords:Cameroon, Knowledge-attitudes-practices, Nutrition, Obesity, Weight status.