Ingesta alimentaria y composición corporal asociadas a síndrome metabólico en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract

The objective of this study was to know the relationship between dietary intake (DI) and body composition (BC) with the metabolic syndrome (MS) among university students. A total of 50 students (56% female) among 19 and 25 years of age (M = 20.58, SD = 1.86), completed a questionnaire aimed at assessing DI, in addition biochemical and BC parameters were collected. According to the percentage of body fat (BF), a high prevalence of overweight (22%) and obesity (38%) was identified. In addition, visceral fat increased as the BF increased. In both sexes, there was a low consumption of carbohydrates and high in lipids, mostly of animal fat as well as high consumption of saturated fats, but low omegas 3 y 6. The MS was identified in 20% of the sample, mainly in women. The most frequently risk criteria were low levels of HDL cholesterol, followed by abdominal obesity; whereas the most frequent dyslipidemia was hypertriglyceridemia. In this study, although no direct relationship was found between DI and MS, it was found between MS and BC indicators. It is imminent the need to implement strategies that allow university students to acquire healthy eating and physical activity habits.