Abstract

Introduction: The online purchase and sale of food has increased substantially worldwide, driven by expanded access to digital technologies and electronic devices. Objective: To assess the association between exposure to online food purchasing platforms and the nutritional status of university students. Materials and methods: A total of 587 students from the University of Bio-Bio, Chile, participated in the study. An online questionnaire was administered, which included items on the use of food delivery applications and environmental influences on food purchasing behaviors. Cluster analysis and logistic regression models were employed for data analysis. Results: Three exposure clusters to online food delivery platforms were identified using multiple correspondence analysis and K-means clustering: traditionally exposed (n=198), minimally exposed (n=196), and highly exposed (n=193). Students with high exposure to digital food delivery platforms demonstrated a greater likelihood of overweight or obesity (OR=1.53; p=0.048). In contrast, purchasing vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free food was associated with a lower risk of overweight or obesity (OR=0.65; p=0.049). Conclusion: A significant association was found between the use of online food purchasing platforms and the nutritional status of university students. These findings suggest that increased access to and use of such platforms may influence dietary behaviors and contribute to nutritional outcomes in this population.