Studying biological science does not lead to adoption of a healthy lifestyle

Bhatti, Sunbal N.; Leidi, Alessandro; Leake, David S.; Li, Jian-Mei

doi:10.1177/1757913919890889

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…A longitudinal study shows that higher intensities of PA offers protection from the risk of fatty liver [ 48 ]. However, we had reported previously that starting university life did not lead to the adoption of a healthy lifestyle [ 4 ]. As there is no system in place to limit or record the sale of alcohol (per occasion) provided to students in university bars, once a binge drink starts it may to be difficult for students to refuse more alcohol among the peer and social influence thus alcohol and PA awareness campaigns for these at-risk groups may be worthwhile.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This university experience involves a variety of small-scale environments, termed micro-environments, including both physical and social settings which contribute to the establishment of behavioural patterns [ 2 ]. Social norms in micro-environments encouraging alcohol intake, such as bars/clubs, student halls and campus events increase the risk of unsafe alcohol consumption greatly at university [ 3 , 4 ]. This manifests predominately by integrating into binge drinking (≥5 drinks on one occasion) as part of university cultures [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploration of Alcohol Consumption Behaviours and Health-Related Influencing Factors of Young Adults in the UK

Bhatti

Fan

Collins

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Hazardous alcohol consumption is ranked above illicit drug use with regards to health deterioration and social and economic burden. This study sought to clarify the factors influencing alcohol consumption and its prevalence in young adults. Demographics, alcohol consumption and lifestyle information were gathered via anonymous questionnaires during 2011–2019, crossing Reading, Surrey and Farnborough universities, UK. Controlling for confounders, a multinomial logistic regression was performed using SAS® 9.4 software. A total of 1440 students (43.5% males, 56.5% females; 54.4% Caucasians) with a mean (SD) age of 19.9 (2.73) were included. Among them, 68.9% consumed alcohol frequently and 31.7% had ≥12 units/week. Statistical analysis revealed that males consumed twice more alcohol than females, odds ratio (OR) 1.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.34–2.09), p-value < 0.01. Caucasians consumed up to five times more alcohol than other ethnicities, OR 4.55 (3.57–5.56), p-value < 0.01. Smokers consumed three times more alcohol than non-smokers, OR 2.69 (1.82, 3.99), p-value < 0.01. In general, the levels of alcohol consumption were positively associated with the levels of physical activity, OR 2.00 (1.17–3.42), p-value < 0.05 and negatively associated with recreational sedentary screen-time activities in males, OR 0.31 (0.12–0.86), p-value = 0.03. Focusing alcohol interventions toward Caucasians, smokers and physically active students, particularly males, may guide university strategies to reduce alcohol-related societal harm and risks of morbidity and mortality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploration of Alcohol Consumption Behaviours and Health-Related Influencing Factors of Young Adults in the UK

Bhatti

Fan

Collins

et al. 2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

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“…In recent years, great effort has been given on the well-being and the quality of life to patients and other populations [2,3] but few studies have assessed the well-being of young medical science professionals [4,5]. At the early stage of their careers, new medical science students are more vulnerable to adopt unhealth lifestyle, which may be due to the challenge of living independently without parental constraints, changing eating behaviour, high academic demands with longer sedentary period at lectures and computer-screen and managing an active social life in the meantime [4]. A recent survey reported that in comparison to pre-university life, new university students struggled to find time for exercise in order to keep them physically fit [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the early stage of their careers, new medical science students are more vulnerable to adopt unhealth lifestyle, which may be due to the challenge of living independently without parental constraints, changing eating behaviour, high academic demands with longer sedentary period at lectures and computer-screen and managing an active social life in the meantime [4]. A recent survey reported that in comparison to pre-university life, new university students struggled to find time for exercise in order to keep them physically fit [4]. Understanding the impact of unhealthy lifestyle components on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and heart rate recovery of new medical science students is an important step to keep this young generation healthy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Understanding the impact of unhealthy lifestyle components on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and heart rate recovery of new medical science students is an important step to keep this young generation healthy. However, few studies had examined the health of medical science students relied on self-reported data [4,5]. Little information is available based on objective physical activity measures and the association between these measures and the lifestyle components for these early career health professionals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of unhealthy lifestyle on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery of medical science students

Fan

Collins

et al. 2020

BMC Public Health

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Background: Medical science students represent valuable labour resources for better future medicine and medical technology. However, little attention was given to the health and well-being of these early career medical science professionals. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of lifestyle components on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery measured after moderate exercise in this population. Methods: Volunteers without documented medical condition were recruited randomly and continuously from the first-year medical science students during 2011-2014 at the University of Surrey, UK. Demographics and lifestyle components (the levels of smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, weekend outdoor activity and screen-time, daily sleep period, and self-assessment of fitness) were gathered through pre-exercise questionnaire. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max) and heart rate recovery were determined using Åstrand-Rhyming submaximal cycle ergometry test. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Results: Among 614 volunteers, 124 had completed both lifestyle questionnaire and the fitness test and were included for this study. Within 124 participants (20.6 ± 4 years), 46.8% were male and 53.2% were female, 11.3% were overweight and 8.9% were underweight, 8.9% were current smokers and 33.1% consumed alcohol beyond the UK recommendation. There were 34.7% of participants admitted to have < 3 h/week of moderate physical activity assessed according to UK Government National Physical Activity Guidelines and physically not fit (feeling tiredness). Fitness test showed that VO 2 max distribution was inversely associated with heart rate recovery at 3 min and both values were significantly correlated with the levels of exercise, self-assessed fitness and BMI. Participants who had < 3 h/week exercise, or felt not fit or were overweight had significantly lower VO 2 max and heart rate recovery than their peers. Conclusion: One in three new medical science students were physically inactive along with compromised cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery, which put them at risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Promoting healthy lifestyle at the beginning of career is crucial in keeping medical science professionals healthy.

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Staying home, catching up on our reading ...

Saunders¹

2020

Perspect Public Health

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Perspectives in Public Health publishes six times a year, and so we are always working a couple of issues ahead. As I pen this editorial, it's week six of lockdown in the UK and while many of us have the opportunity and technology to work from home, many more are 'furloughed' from their employment. As well as establishing regular handwashing and respiratory hygiene, Government guidance requires us to implement 'shielding' and 'social distancing', though this isn't as simple as it sounds. It's really about physical distancing, as our need for social contact with family and friends has never been greater. Social media and virtual communication have played an important role: allowing us to continue to work; to keep in touch with those we aren't seeing from day to day; in keeping our spirits up (some of the viral videos have been very entertaining); and by providing ideas and inspiration for our exercise and fitness regimes at home. Many of us are meeting our neighbours and other members of our communities (at a safe distance) as our lives have been forced to slow down, and there have been extraordinary gestures of kindness, commitment, and care provided to those affected by the virus.In this issue, Progreba-Brown et al. 1 describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adults in Arizona, USA, regarding mosquito-borne disease and respiratory disease (specifically influenza), and how their findings contribute to the promotion of behaviour change and the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce risk of infection. The authors found that many participants in their study used the Internet as their key source of health information, and while there was limited knowledge about mosquito-borne disease, there were high levels of awareness and knowledge of influenza and how to prevent its spread. Bhatti et al. 2 describe the lifestyle and physical activity habits of biomedical science students and changes in their health behaviour before and after enrolling at University, citing insufficient time as the main reason for reducing levels of physical activity. Hobday's historical review of beliefs about dust and airborne infection 3 provides impetus for us to use our time at home to undertake a spring clean (my Victorian house is a dust trap, evidenced in the cordless vacuum cleaner), which could also contribute to our hour's physical activity. Finally, Michael Kofi Boachie 4 makes the case for changing risky behaviours through fiscal policy, including continual increases in taxation of products which are detrimental to health, while subsidising and promoting increased uptake of healthy food items. He places particular emphasis on how such policy would benefit low-and middle-income countries, which carry the burden of mortality from non-communicable disease.

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Studying biological science does not lead to adoption of a healthy lifestyle

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Exploration of Alcohol Consumption Behaviours and Health-Related Influencing Factors of Young Adults in the UK

Exploration of Alcohol Consumption Behaviours and Health-Related Influencing Factors of Young Adults in the UK

Impact of unhealthy lifestyle on cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate recovery of medical science students

Staying home, catching up on our reading ...

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