The University of Zambia Food Science and Nutrition Students Association President, Florence Malama has said that there is low awareness among students on the importance of good nutrition.
Speaking during an interview at the University of Zambia, Ms. Malama said most students find it difficult to balance between a busy academic life and having a nutritious lifestyle.
Ms. Malama recognized that students often resort to fast foods that are easy to take in order to save time which sometimes is a health hazard and may contain little or no nutrients at all.
“Obesity, weight loss, memory loss, eating disorders, osteoporosis, and heart diseases are some of the effects and usual cases amongst students due to having a deprived nutrition,” she said.
She also said that despite the association carrying out numerous health and nutrition campaigns in campus, she wondered why students have not taken up measures in implementing a nutritious lifestyle.
Ms. Malama said that a good and healthy nutrition contributes to their wellbeing as well as improving memory which in turn contributes to a good academic life.
Speaking in a separate interview, public health lecturer at the same department Ms. Dorothy Nthani said that there is need for government health institutions to carry out effective campaigns in promoting good health through good nutrition.
Ms. Nthani said that people have wrong concepts and information on good nutrition and that most of them end up clogging themselves with unpleasant health lifestyles.
“A good nutrition must protect people from ailments and not make them vulnerable,” she said.
“A good and healthy lifestyle contributes to the country’s labour force which in turn brings development” added Ms. Nthani.
She said that various sectors of the society must improve on nutrition because a good nutrition contributes to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle generates a healthy nation.
Ms. Nthani also pointed out that the existence of the Food and Nutrition program at the University of Zambia is meant to produce experts and researchers who will ensure food safety, food security and quality, that should be acceptable to both end users on local and international markets.
The Department of Food Science and Nutrition is a joint program of food science and nutrition under the School of Agriculture Science.
The department is well vested in various disciplines with the capacity to provide students with necessary skills, knowledge and morals in the fields of food science & technology and human nutrition.