Lifestyle factors and other health measures in a Canadian university community.
With the increasing prevalence of obesity, there is a continuous search for effective obesity-prevention and health-promotion interventions. These interventions should be based on factors that have the potential to influence body weight and health. This study describes various health-related factors in a Canadian university community with the aim of developing more specific obesity interventions. A total of 3143 individuals completed an online questionnaire made up of 3 sections--on physical activity (PA), food habits, and other relevant lifestyle factors. The sampling error was +/-3.3% with a 95% confidence interval. Results showed that 22.9% of students and 37.3% of staff members were either overweight or obese. Students had less desirable eating patterns than staff members in terms of fish, energy drink, and regular milk product intake, and both groups reported undesirable breakfast consumption and quality. Nevertheless, results also showed that a high percentage of individuals in both groups did not meet the recommendations for vegetable, fruit, and fish intake, or PA. Only a few gender differences were observed in eating habits. Soft drink and energy drink consumption was higher and breakfast consumption was lower in men, whereas a higher percentage of women did not meet the recommendations for vegetable, fruit, or fish consumption. Dieting behaviours, disinhibition susceptibility, and moderate-intensity (MIPA) were the 3 lifestyle factors most highly associated with overweight and obesity in both groups. Results also suggest that female students were highly preoccupied with their body weight. This study shows that overweight and obesity are problems in a university community, and that they are associated with many health-related lifestyle behaviours. Although most of the lifestyle factors and health measures examined are similar across groups and genders, some differences call for the development of health-promotion programs with specific targeting strategies.
Pérusse-Lachance
Emilie
E
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
Tremblay
Angelo
A
Drapeau
Vicky
V
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult