Analysis of adherence to a healthy lifestyle among vegetarian and non-vegetarian Peruvian university students: A cross-sectional survey.


Journal

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
Titre abrégé: PLoS One
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101285081

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2024
Historique:
received: 11 12 2023
accepted: 07 02 2024
medline: 23 2 2024
pubmed: 23 2 2024
entrez: 23 2 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Evidence shows that a healthy lifestyle can promote physical and mental well-being in the general population. However, there are few studies that assess the adherence to a healthy lifestyle in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in adherence to a healthy lifestyle between vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students in Peru. A cross-sectional study was carried out considering data from 6,846 students selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used. In addition, sociodemographic and anthropometric data such as weight and height were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Semi-vegetarian and vegetarian students had a high healthy lifestyle score compared to non-vegetarians. In addition, vegetarian diets showed a significantly higher proportion among students with a lower BMI (normal and underweight). Students with excess body weight (overweight and obesity) were less likely to report healthy lifestyle. In the overall population analyzed, it was observed that the levels of health and lifestyle behaviors, such as daily exercise and sunlight exposure, were mostly moderate and low. Additionally, sweets intake was high, while healthy food consumption such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains was low. The current findings show that although vegetarians had better adherence to a healthy lifestyle, interventions in the university setting are needed to improve healthy lifestyle in university students.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Evidence shows that a healthy lifestyle can promote physical and mental well-being in the general population. However, there are few studies that assess the adherence to a healthy lifestyle in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in adherence to a healthy lifestyle between vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students in Peru.
METHODS METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out considering data from 6,846 students selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used. In addition, sociodemographic and anthropometric data such as weight and height were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated.
RESULTS RESULTS
Semi-vegetarian and vegetarian students had a high healthy lifestyle score compared to non-vegetarians. In addition, vegetarian diets showed a significantly higher proportion among students with a lower BMI (normal and underweight). Students with excess body weight (overweight and obesity) were less likely to report healthy lifestyle. In the overall population analyzed, it was observed that the levels of health and lifestyle behaviors, such as daily exercise and sunlight exposure, were mostly moderate and low. Additionally, sweets intake was high, while healthy food consumption such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains was low.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
The current findings show that although vegetarians had better adherence to a healthy lifestyle, interventions in the university setting are needed to improve healthy lifestyle in university students.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38394083
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299317
pii: PONE-D-23-38350
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

e0299317

Informations de copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Saintila et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Auteurs

Jacksaint Saintila (J)

Doctorado en Nutrición y Alimentos, Escuela de Posgrado, Universidad San Ignacio De Loyola, Lima, Perú.

Ricardo Rojas-Humpire (R)

Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú.

Edda E Newball-Noriega (EE)

Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú.

Salomón Huancahuire-Vega (S)

Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú.

Felipe L Ignacio-Cconchoy (FL)

Doctorado en Nutrición y Alimentos, Escuela de Posgrado, Universidad San Ignacio De Loyola, Lima, Perú.

Yaquelin E Calizaya-Milla (YE)

Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, School of Human Nutrition, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú.

Classifications MeSH