THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON EATING HABITS AMONG STUDENTS IN BAUCHI STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ABUBAKAR TATARI ALI POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI AND THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI IN BAUCHI METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT Good nutrition is essential for maintaining health and preventing diseases, particularly among students whose eating habits can be influenced by several factors such as environment, lifestyle, and exposure to mass media. In recent years, the rapid growth of social media and other forms of mass media has played an important role in shaping people’s food choices and dietary behaviors. This study examined the relationship between eating habits and the usage of mass media among students. The objectives of the study were to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents, assess their knowledge and attitudes toward healthy nutrition, evaluate their eating habits, and examine the influence of mass media on their dietary practices. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected from 300 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The data obtained were analyzed using frequency and percentage distributions and presented in tables. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents were female (60%) while males accounted for 40%. Most of the respondents (56.7%) were single, and the majority were HND students (60%). The results showed that many respondents had good knowledge of nutrition, as most agreed that consuming fruits, vegetables, and a variety of foods is beneficial to health. However, some misconceptions about sugary foods and body weight were also observed. The study further revealed unhealthy eating habits among some respondents, such as low consumption of fruits and vegetables and high intake of fried foods. In addition, mass media was found to significantly influence eating habits, as many respondents reported trying diets and purchasing food products promoted on social media. The study concluded that mass media strongly influences students’ dietary choices. It therefore recommends increased nutrition education and the promotion of accurate health information through media platforms.