[THE COMPARISON BETWEEN FOOD HABITS AND PHYSICAL CONDITION AMONG PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND OTHER UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS].
BACKGROUND
college students show a great susceptibility to acquire inadequate habits during their university studies, which they could maintain along their life.


OBJECTIVE
compare the dietary habits and physical fitness among physical education students and other university careers at the same university and campus.


METHODS
the sample included 343 students, mainly men (70%), 212 students from the career of Physical Education (PE) and 131 students of other careers (OC) of the Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco campus. A validated survey about eating habits and physical fitness tests were applied to each student.


RESULTS
in comparison with the students from other careers, the men of PE have a lower frequency of consumption of dairy, vegetables, alcohol (p < 0.05) and women of PE have higher frequency of consumption of homemade food, biscuits and sweet snacks (p < 0.05). Regarding the physical fitness, PE students obtained the best performance as was expected.


CONCLUSIONS
no major differences were observed among the eating habits of students PE and OC from the same university, while physical fitness is consistent with the greater stimulus that the PE students receive in their academic training, which would serve as a excuse to consume more sugary drinks, junk food, cookies and sweet snacks.
Instituto de Estudios en Ciencias de la Educación, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, sede Temuco. Departamento de Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, sede Temuco.. sduran74@gmail.com.
Pablo
P
Valdes-Badilla
Departamento de Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, sede Temuco.. sduran74@gmail.com.
Andrés
A
Godoy-Cumillaf
Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad San Sebastián. Laboratorio de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, el Deporte y la Salud, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH.. sduran74@gmail.com.
Tomás
T
Herrera-Valenzuela
Carrera de Nutrición y Dietética. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Sebastián, Chile.. sduran74@gmail.com.
Samuel
S
Durán-Agüero
D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities