Weight status, physical activity and eating habits of young adults in Midwest Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess weight status and eating habits of undergraduate university students in relation to gender and examine the relationships between weight status, physical activity and eating habits. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted between October 2016 and May 2017. SETTING: Young adults in Midwest Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate university students (n 2163) majoring in health care. RESULTS: Among 2163 students, 69·3 % were female, 65·4 % were aged 20-29 years, 66·8% consumed alcohol and 44·2% did not achieve more than 150 min of physical activity per week. We found significant differences in the consumption of beans (P < 0·04) and full-fat milk (P < 0·01) between women and men. Women also had more sedentary lifestyles (P < 0·01) and showed higher prevalence of overweight (33·8 %) and obesity (5·0 %) than men. Students who did not engage in physical activity were more overweight (P = 0·03), consumed more soft drinks (P < 0·01) and meat with excess fat (P = 0·01). There was a positive association between weight status and fruit (P = 0·02), salad (P < 0·01), greens/vegetables (P < 0·01) and beans (P < 0·01) intake. CONCLUSIONS: The low level of physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns reported by the study participants were inconsistent with the national recommendations for a healthy active lifestyle for adults and may contribute to the increasing rate of overweight and obesity in this population. A joint effort between universities and all relevant government agencies is needed to develop and promote school- and community-based interventions.

Physical activity and nutritional habits among Physical Education undergraduates: a crosssectional study in Brasília / Atividade física e hábitos nutricionais entre estudantes de Educação Física: um estudo transversal em Brasília

Abstract Studies carried out in Brazil have demonstrated that the lifestyle profile of university students presents worrying deficiencies in respect to physical activity and eating habits. The aim was to evaluate the dietary habit and physical activity profile of physical education students and investigate the association between nutritional status, physical activity and eating habits. A cross-sectional design with 903 Physical Education students. All the questions were extracted from the Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (Vigitel). The women were found to be more sedentary (p<0.01) and showed a higher prevalence of obesity. Those who did not practice physical activity had a high prevalence of having a chronic disease. The men had a more adequate diet and physical activity profile. Studies that focus on promoting healthy habits should be inserted early in the universities.

Resumo Estudos realizados no Brasil demonstraram que o perfil de estilo de vida de universitários apresentam deficiências preocupantes em relação à atividade física e hábitos alimentares. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os hábitos alimentares e o perfil de atividade física dos estudantes de Educação Física e investigar a associação entre o estado nutricional, atividade física e hábitos alimentares. Estudo transversal com 903 estudantes de Educação Física. Todas as questões foram retiradas do Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para as Doenças Crônicas (Vigitel). As mulheres eram mais sedentárias (p<0,01) e apresentaram maior prevalência de obesidade. Aqueles que não praticavam atividade física tinham alta prevalência de sofrer uma doença crônica. Os homens tinham uma dieta e um perfil de atividade física mais adequado Estudos voltados à promoção de hábitos saudáveis devem ser inseridos nas universidades.