Table 4 Perceived barriers to healthy eating among university students in Kuwait by obesity status (non-obese = 93 men, 253 women; obese = 110 men, 74 women)

Personal and environmental barriers to healthy eating

 1. Do not have enough information about a healthy diet

Non-obese

22.6

30.1

47.3

0.1072

16.7

40.3

43.0

0.4766

Obese

18.2

44.5

37.3

10.8

43.2

46.0

 2. Do not have motivation to eat healthy diet

Non-obese

15.1

38.7

46.2

0.3593

15.4

40.3

44.3

0.3936

Obese

21.0

41.8

37.2

21.6

40.5

37.9

 3. Do not enjoy eating healthy foods

Non-obese

19.4

38.7

41.9

0.0665

15.8

41.9

42.3

0.4733

Obese

29.1

43.6

27.3

20.3

44.6

35.1

 4. Do not have skills to plan, shop for, prepare or cook healthy foods

Non-obese

28.0

32.3

39.7

0.0049

24.5

45.5

30.0

0.9513

Obese

21.8

54.5

23.7

23.0

47.3

29.7

 5. Do not have access to healthy foods

Non-obese

20.4

32.3

47.3

0.3100

17.8

38.7

48.5

0.3224

Obese

27.3

35.5

37.2

25.7

35.1

39.2

 6. Not able to buy healthy foods that are inexpensive

Non-obese

9.7

21.5

68.8

0.3502

7.5

19.0

73.5

0.9488

Obese

13.6

27.3

59.1

8.1

20.3

71.6

Social barriers to healthy eating

 1. No parent’s support to eat healthy diet

Non-obese

12.9

20.4

66.7

0.6056

11.9

18.5

69.6

0.5317

Obese

14.5

25.5

60.0

12.2

24.3

63.5

 2. No friend’s support to eat healthy diet

Non-obese

21.5

24.7

53.8

0.0644

17.0

29.5

52.5

0.0632

Obese

19.1

40.0

40.9

23.0

39.2

37.8

 3. No teacher’s support to eat healthy diet

Non-obese

25.8

21.5

52.7

0.2806

17.4

28.9

53.7

0.1378

Obese

25.4

31.0

43.6

27.0

29.7

43.3

 4. Not having time to prepare or eat healthy foods because of university commitment

Non-obese

31.2

23.7

45.1

0.0013

42.7

33.2

24.1

0.6938

Obese

31.8

44.5

23.7

41.9

37.8

20.3