Knowledge and practice about food, health and exercise in university students at Medellin-Colombia

ABSTRACT: The study of healthy lifestyles in young people is a matter of interest to prevent onset of chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: To evaluate knowledge and practices about food, health and exercise in university students and its relationship with gender and socioeconomic level. Materials and methods: A descriptive exploratory cross-sectional study with a sample of 210 men and 210 women, university students from Medellin city, was performed. Results: According to MANOVA with orthogonal canonical contrast, highly significant difference (p <0.0001) between genders in knowledge about dietary habits and aspects associated with weight control, was detected; significant difference (p <0.0354) between genders in beliefs about eating habits and health, was detected. According to multiple correspondence analysis relationship between BMI knowledge and knowledge about their health implications, was found; equally, between socioeconomic level and knowledge related to BMI. Conclusions: College students have a regular insight into their knowledge about healthy eating habits, physical activity and weight control as well as its implications for health. The knowledge is lower among men and lower socioeconomic level.RESUMEN: El estudio de estilos de vida saludable en jóvenes es de interés para prevenir la aparición de enfermedades crónicas no trasmisibles. Objetivo: evaluar los conocimientos y prácticas sobre alimentación, salud y ejercicio de estudiantes universitarios y la relación de factores como sexo y nivel socioeconómico. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo exploratorio de carácter transversal con una muestra de 210 hombres y 210 mujeres, estudiantes de universidades de la ciudad de Medellín. Resultados: la prueba MANOVA con contraste canónico ortogonal detectó diferencia altamente significativa entre sexos, en los conocimiento sobre hábitos alimentarios y aspectos asociados al control del peso (p<0,0001); se detectó diferencia significativa (p