Risk factors of overweight/obesity-related lifestyles in university students: Results from the EHU12/24 study

Abstract

This paper investigates the prevalence and interaction of overweight/obesity-related lifestyles (specifically, examining whether subjects meet the recommended criteria), in a representative sample of university students. This study is part of the project EHU12/24, an observational cross-sectional study, designed to assess the prevalence of excess body fat (BF) and major risk of developing overweight/obesity, according to a standardised protocol. In a cohort of 603 students, aged between 18 and 28 years, of the University of the Basque Country, information about meal patterns, diet quality, physical activity, sitting time, sleeping time, toxic habits and anthropometric measurements were collected. Sampling took place from February 2014 to May 2017. Binary logistic regressions models adjusted for the covariates were utilised to test the association between lifestyles and risk of excess adiposity. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, according to BF percentage was 14·4%. The variables analysed related to meal pattern were associated with diet quality, and less healthy food habits were associated with other less health-related behaviours. Among men, moderate/low physical activity, breakfast skipping, non-adequate breakfast duration, number of eating occasions and eating breakfast alone/depending on the occasion were associated with excess BF; while among women, low MedDietScore, moderate/high alcohol consumption, non-adequate sleep duration, eating breakfast and lunch alone/depending on the occasion. Results suggest that certain unhealthy lifestyle behaviours coexist, interact with one another and increase the risk of overweight/obesity in this population. Sex-specific differences in risk factors of obesity has implications for interventions for primary prevention of obesity within this environment.

Mediterranean Diet, a Posteriori Dietary Patterns, Time-Related Meal Patterns and Adiposity: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in University Students

“…Although the direct comparison of our results to those of other studies is rather difficult given the data-driven nature of such analysis, high-fat and high-sugar foods have previously been connected to obesity in students [ 46 , 64 , 65 ] and young adults [ 66 ]. High alcohol intake has also been associated with obesity in other studies, including university students [ 63 ] but not all [ 46 ]. The documented correlation of a high protein pattern with obesity is in line with the previously reported metabolic risks of this pattern [ 57 ].…”

“…However, direct within-study comparisons have shown a higher Mediterranean diet adherence of Dutch students than Greeks [ 18 ]. Some studies have shown no association of the Mediterranean diet to anthropometric indices [ 53 ], while others have shown inverse relationships between obesity and Mediterranean Diet adherence [ 63 ]. In our study, there was no linear relationship between the Mediterranean diet and BMI in multi-adjusted linear regression, but an inverse monotonic relationship was found.…”

“…Snack intake has been associated with >2 metabolic syndrome risk factors in Greek university students, which implies that the quality of ingested snacks is important [ 33 ]. Meal frequency has been associated with body fat in Spanish students [ 63 ]. In our study, no association was found between the meal and/or snack scores and overweight/obesity.…”

“…Low adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been associated with higher perceived stress, lower fruit and vegetables intake [ 17 ] and risky behaviors in university students, such as alcohol intake, while diet quality has been connected to a better lifestyle, moderate alcohol intake, no smoking, better sleep, etc. [ 63 ]. In this context, the beneficial feature of breakfast eating is associated with a general healthy eating profile, such as that adhering to the Mediterranean diet.…”

Skipping Breakfast and Incidence of Frequent Alcohol Drinking in University Students in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study

“…Skipping breakfast is common in university students [27]. The prevalence of skipping breakfast in university students was 32%, 9-16%, 33%, 46-69%, and 17-31% in the US [28], Spain [29,30], Australia [31], China [32,33], and Japan [34,35], respectively. Some studies reported that skipping breakfast was associated with healthcompromising behaviors, such as smoking or alcohol drinking [36], in addition to affecting test grades and school attendance [37].…”