Physical activity and dietary habits in university students: A correlational study

Abstract

Introduction: in university life, students often undergo significant changes in their daily routines, which can lead to sedentary behavior patterns such as long study hours and excessive use of electronic devices. At the same time, independence and the availability of diverse food options can influence their dietary habits. Objective: to determine if physical activity is significantly related to the dietary habits of students in the nursing program at a public university. Methods: a quantitative approach was employed, using a non-experimental research design of a descriptive and cross-sectional correlational nature. The sample consisted of 192 students who were administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Dietary Habits Questionnaire, both of which exhibited appropriate metric properties. Results: preliminarily, it was found that the students were characterized by having a sedentary behavior and by exhibiting less than suitable dietary habits. Additionally, it was determined that the Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient between physical activity and dietary habits was 0,626, and the p-value was lower than the significance level (p<0,05). Conclusions: there is a significant direct relationship between physical activity and dietary habits among students in the nursing program at a public university. Therefore, it is suggested that the university should implement programs to promote physical activity on campus, provide healthy food options in university facilities, and include topics related to nutritional education in the curriculum.