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Lonati E, Cazzaniga E, Adorni R, Zanatta F, Belingheri M, Colleoni M, Riva MA, Steca P, Palestini P. Health-Related Lifestyles among University Students: Focusing on Eating Habits and Physical Activity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:626. [PMID: 38791840 PMCID: PMC11120768 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The transition to higher education at University is a critical moment for young adults to acquire unhealthy habits regarding physical activity (PA) and adherence to a healthy diet. Negative behaviors might be maintained in the years to come with a major risk of suffering from a Non-Communicable Disease. This study aims to determine the relationship between diet and PA in the student community of University of Milano-Bicocca. Students between 18 and 30 years old completed an online survey (6949 students). Two analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), chi-square tests of independence, and a binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the relationship between adequacy of food consumption and PA, in association also with sociodemographic characteristics. Data show a strong correlation between behaviors analyzed, with a proportional positive association between PA and healthy diet. Nevertheless, a third of the sample students incur in incorrect habits for both diet and PA. Further, students performing intensive PA have the healthiest food consumption in general but the worst red meat and pork intake. Accordingly, men practice more PA but have a less adequate diet, exactly contrary to women. In conclusion, policies promoting consciousness of well-being would transform Universities into healthy hubs for virtuous habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Lonati
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.C.); (M.B.); (M.A.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Emanuela Cazzaniga
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.C.); (M.B.); (M.A.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Roberta Adorni
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy; (F.Z.); (P.S.)
| | - Francesco Zanatta
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy; (F.Z.); (P.S.)
| | - Michael Belingheri
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.C.); (M.B.); (M.A.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Matteo Colleoni
- Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy;
- BASE Bicocca Sustainability Committee, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Augusto Riva
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.C.); (M.B.); (M.A.R.); (P.P.)
- BASE Bicocca Sustainability Committee, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Steca
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy; (F.Z.); (P.S.)
- BASE Bicocca Sustainability Committee, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Palestini
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore, 48, 20900 Monza, Italy; (E.C.); (M.B.); (M.A.R.); (P.P.)
- BASE Bicocca Sustainability Committee, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo, 20126 Milan, Italy
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Romero-Blanco C, Hernández-Martínez A, Parra-Fernández ML, Onieva-Zafra MD, Prado-Laguna MDC, Rodríguez-Almagro J. Food Preferences in Undergraduate Nursing Students and Its Relationship with Food Addiction and Physical Activity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19073858. [PMID: 35409543 PMCID: PMC8998007 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19073858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The transition to college is a decisive stage for the acquisition of eating habits that continue into adulthood. The aim of this study is to assess the consumption of healthy elements of the Mediterranean diet in a group of university students and to evaluate whether the consumption pattern was related to sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), food addiction or the amount of physical activity performed. A total of 515 nursing students participated. The Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire (PREDIMED), the food addiction scale (YFAS 2.0) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were completed. For data analysis, multivariate analysis was performed with multiple linear regression and adjusted for sex, age, and BMI. The results showed that females consumed various types of meats (white/red, processed) in a healthier proportion (p < 0.05). Students that consumed more than one per day (unhealthy) of red/processed meats (mean difference (MD) = −0.49; 95% CI: −0.83; −0.15), soft drinks (MD = −0.82; 95% CI: 82−1.36; −0.27) and pastries (MD = −0.63; 95% CI: −0.97; −0.30) displayed higher food addiction scores. In addition, students who skipped breakfast also scored higher on food addiction (MD = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.31−1.19). Higher values of physical activity were observed in those who presented a healthy consumption of vegetables (MD = 140.86; 95% CI: 72.71−209.02), fruit (MD = 145.78; 95% CI: 69.35−222.21), legumes (MD = 136.46; 95% CI: 60.43−212.50) and nuts (MD = 74.36; 95% CI: 14.23−134.49). Students who consumed more red or processed meats, more pastries and more soft drinks had higher values of food addiction, while those who consumed more vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts had more minutes of physical activity per week. These findings invite us to insist on expanding knowledge regarding the health benefits of consuming a Mediterranean-type diet as a whole. The healthy consumption of fish, fruit and legumes should also be emphasized, especially among university students.
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Williams LT. Advances in assessing dietary intake: Lessons from technology and nutritional epidemiology. Nutr Diet 2021; 78:117-120. [PMID: 33851501 DOI: 10.1111/1747-0080.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren T Williams
- Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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