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. 2024 May 15;21(5):626.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph21050626.

Health-Related Lifestyles among University Students: Focusing on Eating Habits and Physical Activity

Elena Lonati  1 , Emanuela Cazzaniga  1 , Roberta Adorni  2 , Francesco Zanatta  2 , Michael Belingheri  1 , Matteo Colleoni  3   4 , Michele Augusto Riva  1   4 , Patrizia Steca  2   4 , Paola Palestini  1   4
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Health-Related Lifestyles among University Students: Focusing on Eating Habits and Physical Activity

Elena Lonati et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

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.

Keywords: age; diet; eating habits; gender; lifestyle; physical activity; protein intake; university students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of the probability of beef consumption adequacy as a function of gender and physical activity (PA).
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This research received no external funding.