Healthy habits of health sciences students and others from different fields: a comparative study

• Main Authors: Alba Solera Sánchez, Amparo Gamero Lluna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academia Española de Nutrición y Dietética 2019-12-01
• Series: Revista Española de Nutrición Humana y Dietética
• Subjects: conducta alimentaria; estudiantes; dieta mediterránea; ejercicio; salud.
• Online Access: http://renhyd.org/index.php/renhyd/article/view/762

Introduction: During the university life, students should consolidate their healthy habits, which should eventually be reflected in the adult life. This is of special importance in case of students who will become professionals of health field. However, lots of investigations conclude that students present really bad habits during their period at university. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine if students from health sciences (ECS) and students from other sciences (EOC) present healthy habits related to regular physical activity practice (AF) and adherence to Mediterranean Diet (DM). In addition, if the ECS have healthier habits than the EOC was investigated. Material and Methods: Healthy habits were evaluated in a sample of 104 students (52 ECS and 52 EOC) from 19 to 32 years old. The AF was determined with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the adherence to DM and the nutritional habits, employing PrediMed Questionnaire. Results: 51,92% of ECS reported an AF practice mainly related to vigorous activities whereas the remaining ones, to moderate and light. On the contrary, most of the EOC use to practice light AF. Regarding the adherence to the DM, 54% of ECS presented adherence to DM in contrast to only 27% of EOC. Finally, the ECS had a greater consumption of fruit and natural juices, fish and seafood and nuts, while the EOC reported greater consumptions of red and processed meat and sugar beverages. Conclusions: The ECS reported healthier habits than the EOC, a regular practice of more vigorous AF and higher adherence to DM. A direct relationship between health knowledge and a healthier habit among university population is proved.