engleski

Living at or Away from Home – Impact on Student’s Eating Habits

To evaluate impact of living at or away from home on eating habits and lifestyle of students (n=445) from Medical School University of Zagreb, Croatia, aged 18 to 26 years. A self- administered questionnaire, designed especially for this study was used for data collection. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann Whitney U test for distribution of qualitative parameters. Logistic regression was performed in order to explore relation between students groups and their lifestyle and eating habits. Among students that live away from family, 25.4% consume food only in student’s restaurants, and 63, 5% there consume at least one meal. Among students that live at home, with family, 15.4% only eat in student’s restaurants, and more than 50% there consume at least one meal. Students, regardless where they live, consume two meals per day. Breakfast is meal that students most often skip (77.5%). Statistically significant breakfast more rare eat students that live alone (P=0.044). Students living at home statistically significant more consume milk and diary products (P=0.050), meat (P=0.031) and smoke dry meat products (P=0.006), and vegetables and fruits. Of all students 47.2% are physically active, but those who live at home are statistically significant more active (P=0.001). Among all investigated students 34.7% are smokers, and there is no statistically significant differences among them (P=0.267). In both groups alcohol consumption was high, but statistically significant more often alcohol consume students living at home (P=0.021). Logistic regression showed place of meal consumption, frequency of meat consumption and physical activities as important predictors of lifestyle and eating habits. This study indicates unfavorable lifestyle and eating habits in both investigated groups, regardless they live at or away from home. Thus, importance of healthy foods, physical activities and non smoking should be taken into consideration when informing students, especially during their beginning University.

students ; eating habits ; lifestyle ; living at/awayfrom home

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