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Background: Literature has reported significant differences in the nutritional status, dietary habits and life style between males and females in all age groups. Thus, this study aims to examine the differences in nutritional status and dietary habits between male and female students at the Palestine Polytechnic University, in Hebron City. Method: The cross-sectional survey design was utilized. A pretested self-reported questionnaire was administered to the students who completed the consent form, giving a total of 640 students; 194 (42.18%) males and 266 (57.82%) females, with mean age (20.22±1.621).The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements, dietary behaviors and diet intake. Results: The male students had significant higher percentage of being obese and overweight, while the female students had significant higher percentage of underweight, (p<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant mean difference between both genders in BMI using the independent sample t-test, (p<0.05). For the food habits, the chi square test results indicated significant differences in nutrition information ,eating outside the home, eating fast food, following diet and taking dinner due to gender, (p<0.05). Conclusion: Differences in the nutritional status, dietary habits and life style were reported between males and females participated in the study. There is a need to develop educational programs among university students to improve their nutritional status and dietary habits to avoid related medical and health disorders in the future.
Key words: obesity, prevalence, and university students