Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) disproportionately affects African Americans, yet data on diabetes awareness, dietary behaviors, and anthropometric risk factors among students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) remain limited. This study examined the relationships among T2D awareness, healthy eating patterns, and anthropometric risk factors in African American college students attending an HBCU. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 211 African American students (146 women, 65 men) aged 18–40 years at Morgan State University, Maryland. T2D awareness was assessed using the 24-item Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ-24), nutrition literacy using the Short Nutrition Literacy Scale (S-NutLit), and dietary intake using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, from which a healthy eating pattern score was derived. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis, were obtained using standardized procedures. Pearson product-moment correlations were performed using SPSS version 25.0, with statistical significance defined as <italic>p</italic> < 0.05. Results Mean BMI was 26.8 ± 6.8 kg/m², and 26.5% of participants were classified as obese. Elevated body fat was observed in 45.9% of women and 61.5% of men. Greater T2D awareness was modestly and inversely associated with BMI ( <italic>r</italic> = -0.141, <italic>p</italic> = 0.041). Age was positively associated with adherence to the healthy eating pattern ( <italic>r</italic> = 0.334, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001), whereas year in college was not associated with T2D awareness or dietary behavior. Among the small subgroup of men with elevated waist circumference (> 102 cm), healthier eating was strongly associated with lower waist circumference ( <italic>r</italic> = -0.850, <italic>p</italic> = 0.008). Conclusions A substantial proportion of African American students attending this HBCU exhibited anthropometric markers associated with increased T2D risk. Greater diabetes awareness and healthier dietary patterns were associated with more favorable anthropometric profiles, although the observed associations were generally modest. These findings support the need for culturally relevant nutrition education and lifestyle interventions within HBCU settings to promote diabetes prevention and improve long-term cardiometabolic health. </p>