Body Mass Index, Adherence to a Healthy Lifestyle, and Breakfast Consumption Associated with Religious Affiliation in Peruvian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Nutrients
; 16(15)2024 Jul 31.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39125369
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite evidence suggesting a relationship between religiosity and health habits, there is a paucity of studies specifically examining this association in the context of Peruvian university students. This study compared body mass index (BMI), adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and breakfast consumption in Peruvian university students of four religious denominations Seventh Day Adventists (SDA), Catholics, Baptists, and Evangelicals.METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted online among 4557 students from a Peruvian university. The BMI and the frequency of breakfast consumption were evaluated, and the Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS) was applied. The variables studied were associated using simple and multiple linear regression and Poisson models with robust variance.RESULTS:
Baptist (B = 0.44, 95% CI 0.10-0.78; p = 0.011), Catholic (B = 0.3, 95% CI 0.12-0.47; p = 0.001), and Evangelical (B = 0.32, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.64; p = 0.014) students had a significantly higher BMI compared to SDA. Baptist (B = -0.2, 95% CI -0.37--0.05; p = 0.017) and Evangelical (B = -0.13, 95% CI -0.28--0.03; p = 0.012) students exhibited a lower mean score on the measure of healthy lifestyles compared to SDA students. Additionally, Baptist (PR = -0.32, 95% CI -0.92--0.12; p = 0.035) and Catholic (PR = -0.3, 95% CI -0.99--0.19; p = 0.016) students exhibited a lower probability of eating breakfast regularly compared to SDA students.CONCLUSIONS:
Health professionals should consider these findings when designing and implementing health promotion programs that are culturally sensitive and respectful of the beliefs and practices of all religious groups in university settings.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Religion
/
Students
/
Body Mass Index
/
Breakfast
/
Healthy Lifestyle
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Peru
Language:
En
Journal:
Nutrients
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Perú
Country of publication:
Suiza