According to research reviewed by Gram, college students in Merida, Mexico ate fast food about 2.8 times a week, compared with 5.0 times for non-students of the same age. Ultra-processed foods made up about one-third of weekly intake in both groups, and taste and availability were the main drivers of food choices.
According to research reviewed by Gram, young adults in Merida, Mexico who attend college eat fast food less often than same-age peers who do not study. In a small study of 50 adults aged 21 to 23, students ate fast food about 2.8 times a week, compared with 5.0 times for non-students. Students also reported eating more dairy and nuts, while non-students ate more refined cereals, such as white bread and sugary breakfast cereals. Across both groups, ultra-processed foods made up roughly one-third of weekly intake. Taste and how easily foods were available appeared to matter most when people chose what to eat. The researchers suggest that changing the food environment, such as what is sold and placed nearby, may help young adults eat better. Because the study was small and measured eating habits at a single point in time, it cannot prove cause and effect.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional study of 50 adults aged 21 to 23 in Merida, Mexico found that college students ate fast food about 2.8 times per week, compared with 5.0 times per week for non-students (p = 0.001).
The same 2026 study found that ultra-processed foods accounted for approximately one-third of weekly food intake in both college students and non-students.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: The researchers wanted to know whether young adults who attend college eat differently from young adults the same age who do not, and what drives their food choices.
- Who participated: The study included 50 adults aged 21 to 23 living in Merida, Mexico. There were 26 college students and 24 non-students, with an equal split of 25 men and 25 women.
- Key finding: College students ate fast food about 2.8 times a week, while non-students ate it about 5.0 times a week. This difference was statistically significant, meaning it was unlikely to be due to chance alone. Ultra-processed foods made up about one-third of weekly intake in both groups.
- What it means for you: If you are a young adult trying to eat better, the food around you may matter as much as your willpower. Choosing what to keep at home and what is easy to grab can shape your habits. Because this was a small study, these results should be seen as a starting point, not a final answer.
The Research Details
This was a cross-sectional study, which means the researchers took a snapshot of people’s eating habits at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. Participants were recruited so that the college students and non-students were similar in age, which helps make the comparison fairer.
To learn what people usually ate, each participant filled out a food frequency questionnaire. This is a checklist of foods where people report how often they eat each item during a typical week, such as how many times they had fast food, dairy, or nuts.
The researchers sorted the foods in two ways. They used the Mexican food group system, which organizes foods by type, and the NOVA system, which groups foods by how much processing they have gone through. Under NOVA, ultra-processed foods are industrial products such as packaged snacks, sodas, and many ready-to-eat meals.
A snapshot survey is a useful way to compare groups quickly and to spot patterns worth studying further. It shows how the eating habits of two similar groups differ at the same moment in time. However, it cannot show why those differences exist or whether they last. Food frequency questionnaires rely on memory, so answers can be imprecise. Using two different food classification systems helped the researchers check whether their conclusions held up from more than one angle.
This study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, which means other experts reviewed it before publication. It used a clear comparison group and sorted foods using two recognized systems. Still, the sample was small, with only 50 people from a single city, so the results may not represent young adults elsewhere in Mexico or in other countries. Because the study relied on self-reported answers, some foods may have been over- or under-counted. Readers should treat the findings as early evidence rather than a definitive conclusion.
What the Results Show
The clearest difference between the two groups involved fast food. College students reported eating fast food about 2.8 times a week, while non-students reported about 5.0 times a week. The researchers found this gap to be statistically significant, with a p value of 0.001. In plain terms, this means the difference was very unlikely to be a coincidence in this group of participants.
The two groups also differed in other foods. Students reported eating more dairy products and nuts. Non-students ate refined cereals more often, which are grains that have been stripped of much of their fiber and nutrients, such as white bread and many packaged breakfast cereals.
An interesting finding was that the overall share of ultra-processed foods was similar in both groups. Under the NOVA system, these foods made up roughly one-third of weekly intake for students and non-students alike. This suggests that being in college did not remove ultra-processed foods from the diet, even though fast food intake was lower.
When asked what shaped their choices, participants pointed mainly to taste and availability. In other words, people tended to eat what they enjoyed and what was easy to get. This points to the role of the surrounding food environment, meaning the stores, cafeterias, and restaurants that people encounter every day.
The study’s broader message is that the food environment, not just personal decisions, may shape what young adults eat. When healthy foods are easy to find and affordable, people may be more likely to choose them. Since taste and convenience were the top drivers, programs that make nutritious options tasty and convenient could be especially useful for this age group. The researchers suggest that improving food environments may help promote healthier habits during early adulthood, a period when many people establish long-term eating patterns.
Across Mexico and Latin America, researchers have reported a steady rise in ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks as food systems have become more globalized. This study fits that broader pattern by showing that ultra-processed foods still make up a large share of the diet among young adults in Merida. Its finding that taste and availability guide choices also matches much of the wider nutrition research on how food environments influence eating. Because this study is small and limited to one city, it adds local detail rather than settling larger questions.
The study had several limitations. First, it included only 50 people, which is a small number, so the results may not apply to all young adults. Second, it was limited to one city, Merida, and may not reflect other regions of Mexico or other countries. Third, because it was cross-sectional, it captured eating habits at one moment and cannot show whether the differences lead to long-term health outcomes or whether going to college causes changes in diet. Fourth, the food frequency questionnaire depends on people remembering and accurately reporting what they ate, which can introduce errors. Finally, the study did not directly measure health markers such as weight, blood sugar, or cholesterol, so it cannot say how these diet differences affect health.
The Bottom Line
Research suggests that young adults who eat fast food less often may have a more varied diet with more dairy and nuts, but this is based on a small, one-time survey, so confidence is moderate. Because ultra-processed foods made up about one-third of intake in both groups, reducing them more broadly may be worthwhile. Most evidence points to making healthier foods easier and more appealing to choose, which is a low-risk step. Confidence is strongest for the general idea that the food environment matters, and weaker for any specific numbers.
This research is most relevant to young adults in Mexico, especially students and workers in their early twenties, along with campus dining managers, public health planners, and nutrition educators. It may also interest anyone who wants to understand how surroundings affect food choices. People with medical conditions that require special diets should follow guidance from their own health care provider rather than applying these general findings to themselves.
Changes in eating habits often take several weeks to become routine, and it may take a few months before new patterns feel automatic. Any health benefits, such as improved energy or changes in weight or blood markers, would generally appear over months rather than days. Because this study did not measure health outcomes, it does not provide a timeline for those effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do college students eat more fast food than other young adults?
In a 2026 study of 50 young adults in Merida, Mexico, college students ate fast food about 2.8 times a week, while non-students ate it about 5.0 times a week. The difference was statistically significant, though the sample was small.
How much of a typical young adult’s diet is ultra-processed food?
In a study of young adults in Merida, Mexico, ultra-processed foods made up roughly one-third of weekly intake. This was true for both college students and non-students, based on food frequency questionnaires.
What influences what young adults choose to eat?
Participants in a Merida, Mexico study said taste and availability were the main factors shaping their food choices. Researchers suggest that improving the food environment, such as what is sold and placed nearby, may help promote healthier eating in early adulthood.
Can changing my food environment help me eat healthier?
Research reviewed by Gram suggests that food environments influence eating habits. Keeping nutritious foods visible and convenient, and limiting easy access to fast food, may help. Results from small studies are preliminary, so consistent habit changes work best over several months.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log the number of times per week you eat fast food, packaged snacks, sugary drinks, and refined cereals, and separately track servings of dairy and nuts. Review these counts weekly and aim to reduce fast food and packaged snacks by one or two occasions per week over a month.
- Keep nuts, yogurt, or cheese within easy reach at home and in your bag, and plan one or two quick meals per week that use them. When you do order fast food, set a weekly limit in the app and note when you are most likely to choose it, such as after a late class.
- Check your food log every month and look for patterns in when ultra-processed foods show up most, such as during exam weeks or on busy days. Compare your fast food and snack counts to your baseline from the first month, and celebrate steady improvements rather than perfect weeks. Revisit your goals each semester as your schedule and food environment change.
This article summarizes a small, cross-sectional study of 50 young adults in one city, based on self-reported food questionnaires. It shows associations, not cause and effect, and is not medical advice. Talk with a doctor, registered dietitian, or other qualified health professional before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have a medical condition or take medication.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.