# Dietary Habits of Female University Students in Eastern Slovakia in the Context of Sports Activity
## 1 Introduction  
Rational nutrition and proper diet are the main pillars of a healthy lifestyle and, together with sports activity (SA), they have a significant impact on the health of adolescents [1]. Rational nutrition affects the physical and mental performance of a person. A proper daily dietary regimen and rhythm also has a preventive effect against some diseases [2]. Adequate food choices and good eating habits are essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and for the health of the youth [3; 4; 5]. However, the nutritional habits of university students pose a significant threat to their lifestyle. University is considered a high-risk-factor environment in terms of urging undergraduates to eat disorderly [6; 7]. The nutritional risks specific to university students are alarming to the extent that unhealthy eating habits constitute one of the six biggest health risks for the students [8]. The transition to an independent way of life by entering university can be very stressful and can affect food choices and dietary patterns [9; 10], and this is particularly the case if the university students are living away from home [11]. Physiological and psychological factors in dormitories can lead to disordered eating, including swapping roles and duties, lack of exercise, self-service canteens, and the availability of simple foods [12; 13]. In addition, due to the lack of time associated with the amount of studying, many students are forced to eat in a hurry and therefore largely prefer the consumption of fast food with high calorie content and low nutritional value [13; 14]. Adolescent eating habits are characterised by high consumptionof sweets and sweetened soft drinks, skipping breakfast, and low consumption of fruits and vegetables [14; 15]. According to several authors [7; 14; 15; 16; 17], breakfast omissions, fast food, sweet drinks, and an unbalanced diet are the main food patterns in this population group. Several experts in Slovakia [18; 19; 20; 21], Poland [22; 23], Serbia [24], Spain [15], and Norway [25], as well as in distant countries such as Colombia [26], Turkey [27], Australia [28], the USA [29], and China [16; 17; 30], have pointed out the inappropriate eating habits and poor dietary regime of university students. Nonetheless, irregular eating habits and negative views of body weight have their roots even before entering university [12; 31; 32]. There are many factors that influence students' health behaviour in relation to diet, but to change their eating habits, it is necessary to understand some basic requirements in relation to nutrition, whether it is education in making healthier food choices or their ability to apply this knowledge in practice [33]. The studies regarding the impact of nutritional education on the dietary habits of university students are inconsistent. Several studies have disclosed that nutritional education can change students' eating habits and food choices [10; 34], while others have not reported a significant correlation between these variables [35]. It is usually difficult to distinguish between the effect of diet and the effect of SA. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] [36], it is typical for physically active individuals to eat a healthier diet. According to the authors, SA is also the most important factor for eliminating some of the negative effects of poor nutrition. In terms of gender differences, there is generally a higher presumption of healthy eating and healthy habits in women, with men showing less interest in obtaining nutrition and health improvement counselling [37]. In addition, female students are more concerned about changing their eating habits than males. On the other hand, women's negative perception of their own figures, additionally influenced by their environment and TV commercials, can lead to eating disorders, poor eating habits, various diet plans, dietary adjustments, or even skipping meals.