Abstract: Objective To understand the current situation of nutrition knowledge,attitude and practice（KAP） of university students in a university in Northwest China and analyze its influencing factors,so as to provide a scientific basis for improving the school's nutrition and hygiene level and carrying out nutrition education work in the future. Methods From April to May 2023,a cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 2 953 university students in Northwest China. According to the requirements of the "Student Physical Health Standards",the height and weight of college students were tested,and the body mass index was calculated. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the factors affecting college students' nutritional KAP scores. Results The averagescore of nutritional knowledge among college students was （7.46±3.35）points,the average score of nutrition attitude was （4.46±1.26）points,the average score of dietary behavior was （8.67±2.44）points,and the average total score of nutrition KAP was （20.58±5.24）points. The nutritional KAP scores were correlated with gender,major,place of origin,grade level and ethnicity（all P<0.05）. The proportions of college students who were wasted,had normal weight,were overweight or obese were 18.5%,55.7% and 25.8%,respectively. The total nutritional KAP scores,nutritional knowledge,attitudes,and dietary behaviors scores of the students in the normal weight group were significantly higher than those of the wasted group and the overweight and obese group,and the differences were statistically significant（all P<0.05）. There were statistically significant differences in body mass index among college students of different genders and majors（both P<0.05）. Conclusion Undergraduate students at a university in Northwest China have more positive attitudes toward nutrition, lower levels of nutritional knowledge awareness, and more adverse dietary behaviors. Gender, major, place of origin, grade level, and ethnicity are the main factors affecting nutrition KAP scores. Schools should pay attention to the health education and health management for undergraduates, and strengthen the publicity of nutritional health education for undergraduates, especially for male students, liberal arts students, undergraduates from within the border, lower grades and ethnic minority students.

Key words: Nutrition, Influencing factors, Body mass index, College students, Nutritional status