The role of socioeconomic factors influencing the dietary habits of students of medical academies was analysed. The following factors were considered: social class, socioeconomic status, place of residence. The study was carried out among students of the medical academies in Gdansk, Poznan and Warsaw. Of the analysed factors the greatest differentiating influence on the dietary habits was exerted by the residence during the studies and economic status. Students living in students’ hostels or private rooms and having lower economic means had less adequate dietary habits. The abnormalities included, in the first place, irregularity of meals, lower number of meals with animal, protein lower frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables and coarsely ground cereals.