Impact of academic exposure on health status of university students

Maria Piedade Brandão,Francisco Luís Pimentel,Margarida Fonseca Cardoso

doi:10.1590/s0034-89102011000100006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of academic life on health status of university students. METHODS: Longitudinal study including 154 undergraduate students from the Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal, with at least two years of follow-up observations. Sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics were collected using questionnaires. Students' weight, height, blood pressure, serum glucose, serum lipids and serum homocysteine levels were measured. Regression analysis was performed using linear mixed-effect models, allowing for random effects at the participant level. RESULTS: A higher rate of dyslipidemia (44.0% vs. 28.6%), overweight (16.3% vs. 12.5%) and smoking (19.3% vs. 0.0%) was found among students exposed to the academic life when compared to freshmen. Physical inactivity was about 80%. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and physical activity levels were significantly associated with gender (p<0.001). Academic exposure was associated with increased low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (about 1.12 times), and marginally with total cholesterol levels (p=0.041). CONCLUSIONS: High education level does not seem to have a protective effect favoring a healthier lifestyle and being enrolled in health-related areas does not seem either to positively affect students' behaviors. Increased risk factors for non-transmissible diseases in university students raise concerns about their well-being. These results should support the implementation of health promotion and prevention programs at universities.

Highlights

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) non-transmissible chronic diseases (NTCDs) affect developed countries more than developing countries.a The expansion of NTCDs reflects an industrialization process, urbanism, economic development and globalization of food affecting eating habits, increasing physical inactivity and tobacco consumption
A higher rate of dyslipidemia (44.0% vs. 28.6%), overweight (16.3% vs. 12.5%) and smoking (19.3% vs. 0.0%) was found among students exposed to the academic life when compared to freshmen
High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and physical activity levels were significantly associated with gender (p

Summary

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) non-transmissible chronic diseases (NTCDs) affect developed countries more than developing countries.a The expansion of NTCDs reflects an industrialization process, urbanism, economic development and globalization of food affecting eating habits, increasing physical inactivity and tobacco consumption. Genetics and age are major factors for the development of NTCDs, other risk factors are modifiable with the adoption of healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating behavior and physical activity.[11, 26, 28]. It is critical to identify risk factors and lifestyles among young adults for preventing NTCDs later in life. Academic life can produce lifestyle changes, with positive and negative implications in their health status. Previous studies suggest the need to evaluate health behavior determinants during the transition from high school to university.[6,7,9]

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Conclusion