Nutritional habits in Italian university students

Introduction. Dietary habits have been indicated by research as key elements in both disease pathogenesis and prevention and health promotion. Materials and methods. We analyzed data collected from Italian university students regarding consumption of fruits, vegetables, fast-foods, sweets, energizing drinks, and coffee, average number of eating episodes per day and regularity of breakfast habits.  Results. 44% of the university student population eats in average at least 1 portion of  fruit per day. 22.5% eats at least 2 portions of vegetables per day. 8.5% eats in average 5 times per day with 48.6% declaring an average of 3 eating episodes per day. 11.3% consumes eccessive amounts of caffeine. 49.1% of the females reaches the recommended consumption of fruit, compared to only 33.8% of males (p < 0.05). 27.7% of females eats at least 2 portions of vegetables per day, compared to 12.0% of males (p < 0.05). Eccessive coffee drinkers pass from 8.9% in the 18-21 age group to 16% in the 25-30 year old age group (p < 0.05). Discussion. This study showed that the eating habits of young adults do not follow national recommendations. Less than 50% of university students eats at least 1 portion of fruit per day and less than 1 out of 4 eats at least 2 portions of vegetables per day. Less than 10% of the students eats in average 5 times per day and more than 1 out of 3 does not have breakfast regularly every morning. Conclusion. Interventions targeting university students are required in order to increase their knowledge on healthy eating habits and to ameliorate their dietary behaviours.

Italian university students' self-perceived health and satisfaction of life

INTRODUCTION: Health is defined as a state of complete physical, social and mental wellbeing, therefore, it should not be considered as simply the absence of disease. In this light, the assessment of self-perceived health and life satisfaction plays an important role as it allows addressing the subjective perception of physical health, as well as mental health and social functioning. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study analyzed data from 8516 university students enrolled in the "Sportello Salute Giovani" project ("Youth Health Information Desk"). In particular, it addressed self-perceived health and life satisfaction, reported somatic and psychological symptoms and ability to cope with daily problems of university students from 18 to 30 years old. RESULTS: Overall, 77.1% of students declared to have a good or very good health and the mean score of life satisfaction was 7.46. In respect to somatic and psychological symptoms, 25.8% of students reported to suffer almost daily of at least one among headache, stomach pain, back pain, tiredness, nervousness, dizziness and troubles falling asleep. Results varied on the basis of sex, with women showing lower self-perceived health compared to men and reporting more symptoms. Furthermore, self-perceived health was shown better in younger students and in those belonging to higher socio-economic level. DISCUSSION: The survey showed that concern exists with respect to university students' self-perceived health, which is different from that arising from other evidence. Female students had a significant lower self-perceived health and reported somatic and psychological symptoms more commonly than men. On the other hand, results about life satisfaction seem to be aligned with the literature. CONCLUSION: One of the most important implications of the study is the need to address self-perceived health and reported symptoms in university students in order to monitor them and initiate interventions aimed at improving well-being and controlling inequalities

Physical activity and health promotion in Italian university students

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity, diet plans, the mantainment of a certain Body Mass Index (BMI) and the use of various types of supplementation are common elements in the search for disease prevention, health promotion and well-being. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data regarding Italian university students' BMI, dieting behaviour, personal body perception, exercise habits, and use of dietary supplements and of doping substances. RESULTS: 13.7% resulted being underweight, 75.1% was in the normal range, 9.8% was overweight, and 1.4% was obese. 11.0% were on a diet. 25.8% of the students reported never doing any type of physical activity. 0.9% admitted consuming doping substances. The percentage of overweight/obese students increases from 8.8% of the 18-21 year olds to 18.1% of the 25-30 year olds. Similarly, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 18.5% among male population and 7.5% among the female one. DISCUSSION: The data deriving from this questionnaire showed that while the majority of university students has a BMI in the normal range, 11.2% of the study population is overweight/obese. Males present a higher risk of being overweight or obese. An important part of the population showed to be sedentary even though data coming from our study are aligned to further evidence. CONCLUSION: The most important concern arising from the questionnaire is represented by physical inactivity. Indeed, it is necessary to encourage and plan initiatives aimed at promoting physical activity in university students

Abitudini alimentari degli studenti universitari italiani

Introduzione L’attività fisica, le diete, l’indice di massa corporea (BMI) e l’uso di integratori sono elementi comunemente utilizzati nella ricerca di prevenzione delle malattie, la promozione della salute e del benessere. Materiali e Metodi A 12,000 studenti universitari di diverse regioni d’Italia sono stati somministrati dei quesitonari che sono stati compilati in maniera autonoma e anonima. Sono stati analizzati i dati derivanti dalle domande riguardanti il BMI, l’aderenza ad un piano alimentare, la percezione soggettivo del proprio corpo, l’attività fisica, l’uso di integratori alimentari e l’assunzione di sostanze dopanti. Risultati 13,7% degli studenti era sottopeso, il 75,1% aveva un BMI nel range di normalità, il 9,8% era in sovrappeso, e il 1,4% era obeso. 39% degli studenti era a dieta/riteneva che avrebbe dovuto esserlo. 25,8% degli studenti ha dichiarato di essere sedentario, corrispondendo a 30,5% delle femmine e 16,2% dei maschi. Solo 31.0% degli studenti ha dichiarato di fare attività fisica 2-3 giorni alla settimana. 10,7% assumeva integratori nutrizionali. 0,9% fa uso di sostanze dopanti. La percentuale di studenti obesi/sovrappeso aumenta dal 8,8% nella classe di età 18-21 anni al 18,1% nella classe di età 25-30 anni (p<0,5). La prevalenza di sovrappeso/obesità era del 18,5% per i maschi e il 7,5% per le femmine. 19,4% delle femmine era sottopeso comparato a 2,3% dei maschi (p<0,5). Discussione Solo 75,1% degli studenti universitari ha un BMI nel range del normale. 11,2% della popolazione studiata era sovrappeso/obesa. I maschi presentano un rischio maggiore di essere in sovrappeso/obesi mentre le femmine sono più a rischio di essere sottopeso. Conclusione Sono necessarie strategie di promozione della salute mirate ad aumentare l’attività fisica negli studenti universitari italiani, sopratutto per le femmine. Quasi il 20% delle femmine risulta essere sottopeso

Attività fisica e promozione della salute negli studenti universitari italiani

Introduzione L’attività fisica, le diete, l’indice di massa corporea (BMI) e l’uso di integratori sono elementi comunemente utilizzati nella ricerca di prevenzione delle malattie, la promozione della salute e del benessere. Materiali e Metodi A 12,000 studenti universitari di diverse regioni d’Italia sono stati somministrati dei quesitonari che sono stati compilati in maniera autonoma e anonima. Sono stati analizzati i dati derivanti dalle domande riguardanti il BMI, l’aderenza ad un piano alimentare, la percezione soggettivo del proprio corpo, l’attività fisica, l’uso di integratori alimentari e l’assunzione di sostanze dopanti. Risultati 13,7% degli studenti era sottopeso, il 75,1% aveva un BMI nel range di normalità, il 9,8% era in sovrappeso, e il 1,4% era obeso. 39% degli studenti era a dieta/riteneva che avrebbe dovuto esserlo. 25,8% degli studenti ha dichiarato di essere sedentario, corrispondendo a 30,5% delle femmine e 16,2% dei maschi. Solo 31.0% degli studenti ha dichiarato di fare attività fisica 2-3 giorni alla settimana. 10,7% assumeva integratori nutrizionali. 0,9% fa uso di sostanze dopanti. La percentuale di studenti obesi/sovrappeso aumenta dal 8,8% nella classe di età 18-21 anni al 18,1% nella classe di età 25-30 anni (p<0,5). La prevalenza di sovrappeso/obesità era del 18,5% per i maschi e il 7,5% per le femmine. 19,4% delle femmine era sottopeso comparato a 2,3% dei maschi (p<0,5). Discussione Solo 75,1% degli studenti universitari ha un BMI nel range del normale. 11,2% della popolazione studiata era sovrappeso/obesa. I maschi presentano un rischio maggiore di essere in sovrappeso/obesi mentre le femmine sono più a rischio di essere sottopeso. Conclusione Sono necessarie strategie di promozione della salute mirate ad aumentare l’attività fisica negli studenti universitari italiani, sopratutto per le femmine. Quasi il 20% delle femmine risulta essere sottopeso

Eating habits among Italian university students

Background A sufficient consumption of fruit and vegetables has proven to have an important protective effect towards different diseases and mortality. Nevertheless, some studies reported insufficient daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. Aim of the study is to analyse breakfast consumption, regularity of meals, and fruit and vegetable consumption in the Italian University Student population. Methods The study evaluates data taken from the ‘‘Sportello Salute Giovani’’ questionnaire, based on the ‘‘Health Behaviour in School-aged Children’’ (HBSC) questionnaire. The data regarding age, sex, BMI, number of breakfasts consumed per week, number of eating episodes per day, number of portions of vegetables consumed, number of portions of fruit consumed, intended weight loss, self-reported economic status was analyzed. A descriptive analysis was conducted. Gender and age differences are tested by Chi2 test and Mann-Whitney test. 162 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 25, Supplement 3, 2015 Logistic regression analyses were used to study the association between eating episodes and fruit and vegetable consumption. Results 8.292 questionnaires were analyzed. 67% of responders were female and 33% were male. Results show that only 15,8% of males and 26,3% of the females declared to consume at least one portion of fruit every day (p < 0.01) and similar results were found for vegetable consumption. Age does not influence fruit or vegetables consumption, frequency of eating episodes or breakfast habit. Both a regular breakfast and a higher number of eating episodes are significantly associated with a higher frequency of fruit intake (OR = 2.19 and 1.83, respectively) and a higher frequency of vegetables intake (OR = 2.08 and 1.69, respectively). Conclusions This study underlines the need to promote nutritional education campaigns to increase adherence to nutritional guidelines. Promoting the consumption of breakfast and of the recommended 5 daily eating episodes may prove to be useful in obtaining a greater consumption of fruit and vegetables. Key message It is necessary to create practical strategies in universities that can facilitate the regularity of breakfast, frequent food intake, and fruit and vegetable consumptio