Understanding Incoming Canadian and US Veterinary Students’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Their Dietary Habits and Levels of Physical Activity

Abstract

As critical components of individual well-being, nutrition and physical activity have important physical and psychological implications. Veterinary students face demanding schedules and potentially high rates of psychological distress. Though veterinary students’ strategies for healthy eating have been explored, factors influencing their ability to achieve a healthy diet are less understood. This study assesses incoming veterinary students’ perceived attitudes to their dietary habits and physical activity levels. Incoming students ( n = 322) at five Canadian and five randomly selected US veterinary schools completed a questionnaire inquiring about demographic information, dietary attitudes and habits, and activity levels. More than half (58%) of students perceived their diet to be moderately healthy. A desire to feel better and have more energy was the most reported (79%) motivating factor to modifying personal eating habits and was significantly associated with improved odds of having a perceived healthy diet ( OR = 2.22, p < .024). A busy lifestyle was perceived as a barrier to changing current eating habits by 92% of respondents. Students reporting a desire to maintain their health ( OR = 3.42, p < .001) and moderate ( OR = 2.81, p < .003) or high ( OR = 2.30, p < .044) routine physical activity levels were also more likely to perceive their diet as healthy. Findings show that incoming veterinary students’ perceptions may influence their goals of achieving a healthy lifestyle. An understanding of incoming veterinary students’ barriers and motivators could be applied in future research to assist students in achieving personalized goals.

Factors That Influence the Use of Dietary Supplements among the Students of Wroclaw Medical University in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The results of studies conducted at veterinary schools in Canada and the Unites States were similar. About 58% of veterinary students assessed their diet as moderately healthy and, at the same time, over 90% of respondents perceived a “busy lifestyle” as the problem to change dietary habits [ 27 ]. However, to objectively assess if the diets of Wroclaw Medical University students are actually healthy, a survey focused on this aspect would be needed.…”

Cross-sectional study of physical activity, dietary habits, and mental health of veterinary students after lifting of COVID-19 pandemic measures

“…Questions regarding students’ attitudes toward their health and nutrition were adapted from previous literature [ 11 , 12 ]. Students were asked to rate their overall health (i.e., excellent, very good, good, average, poor, and very poor).…”

“…A Mediterranean Diet adherence score was generated by counting the number of “yes” responses to the 14-point survey [ 13 ]. Physical activity questions were adapted from previous literature [ 11 , 14 , 15 ]. Students were asked to report how many hours per week they spent in total on vigorous physical activity (defined as “activities that get your heart racing and make you sweat (e.g., swimming, running, cycling at high speeds, cardio training, weight lifting, team sports)”) and on combined moderate (defined as “your heartbeat increases and you breathe faster (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, heavy gardening, running, or recreational sports)”) and vigorous physical activity.…”