Disparities in nutrition knowledge among college students: A cross-sectional study and factor analysis in Wuxi, China

Background Nutritional knowledge is fundamental for healthy dietary practices. College students are a key group for establishing lifelong health behaviors. However, existing studies suggest significant gaps in their nutrition knowledge, with a disconnect between knowledge and practice. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 765 undergraduates in Wuxi, China. A standardized questionnaire “Nutrition and health knowledge questionnaire for Chinese adults aged 18–64” assessed knowledge across five domains: dietary recommendations, food characteristics, nutrition and disease, food selection, and food safety. The overall awareness rates and domain-specific rates were calculated. Statistical analyses included group comparisons and logistic regression. Results The overall awareness rate was 24.3%. Significant disparities existed across domains: Food safety had the highest rate (73.9%), while dietary recommendations (16.7%) and food characteristics (16.3%) were notably low. Key knowledge gaps included quantitative limits for salt, sugar, and oil, and portion estimation. Female students showed significantly higher awareness than males (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04–2.08, P  = 0.030). Family income and BMI were not independent factors after adjustment. Conclusions Nutrition knowledge among college students is generally low and imbalanced, with major deficiencies in quantitative and practical aspects. Female gender was an independent predictor of higher knowledge. Future interventions should focus on enhancing practical skills and implementing targeted strategies.