Social patterning of eating behavior in a Thai university population using latent class analysis

Living a healthy life through eating behaviors is quite challenging given the rapid changes in food consumption patterns in Thai society today. At the same time, the relationship between place and healthy eating can help modify individual eating behaviors, especially in universities where diverse groups of students and working adults come together. Given the limited research on recent eating behaviors in Thai universities, this study aimed to investigate the eating patterns of students and personnel in these institutions. We used secondary data from the university health database, which surveyed eating behaviors in 2025 with 606 participants. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was employed to identify subgroups of eating behaviors. Four subgroups were identified: unhealthy eaters, passive eaters, conscious eaters, and balanced eaters. Binary logistic regression analysis also revealed interesting outcomes regarding the relationship between factors determining eating behaviors in these four subgroups, including those related to sociodemographic characteristics and health lifestyle. Age showed higher awareness of healthy eating as it increased. Income adequacy remained a significant factor in food choices. Knowledge of food labels, body satisfaction, participation in health-promoting activities, and exercise were key determinants of healthy eating awareness.