Lifestyle of university students from Barranquilla, Colombia. Differences according sex and socioeconomic status

Abstract

Lifestyles are everyday behaviors that show an individual’s way of life and are usually maintained over time.The university stage is an important period to establish healthy habits for the rest of life.The objective of the study was to determine the lifestyles of university students and the differences according to sex and socioeconomic status.A cross-sectional study was carried out in 508 university students to whom a self-administered survey was applied on their sociodemographic conditions, while their lifestyles were evaluated using the PEVP-II questionnaire. It was observed that only 24.02% of the sample frequently controlled the levels of sugars and fats, 21.85%, in their diet; more than 20% do not perform physical activity, between 20 and 30% do not regulate sugars or include fruits and vegetables in their diets; the averages lower than 60% in the associated factors contemplated in the study, infer that the respondents do not maintain a healthy lifestyle. Finally, it is concluded that low levels of physical activity practice and the presence of habits considered risky in the nutritional dimension, may be related to lifestyles, making this identification in the university environment can help decision-making for design of intervention strategies supported in the well-being of students.