Food behaviour correlated with societal influences and health, emotional & intellectual status in a Romanian students population

Abstract

Input data from Students Food Behavior, Preference and Lifestyle Questionnaire conducted with 376 students from University "Dunarea de Jos" Galati was analyzed from socio-demographic criteria. The sample socio-demographic characteristics of the student population beside the general food & eating habits by gender were investigated in Part I of the social research study. The pattern of eating behavior and lifestyle, food behavior influences, self-appreciation of the actual impact on the healthy, emotional & intellectual status and intention of food behavior change was investigated in Part II. The correlation coefficients between food behavior & lifestyle, societal influences and intention of food behavior change variables were analyzed statistically beside the food behavior variables inter-correlation. A slightly negative correlation between energy intake and breakfast consummation [r (1,3)= -0.049] respectively habit of regular sport making [r (1,7)= -0.070] was reported. Energy intake was positive associated with increasing of Body Mass Index (BMI) [r (1,2)= 0.260] and slightly with regular meals [r (1,4)= 0.014]. The overfeeding was associated with the breakfast skipping, super-size and over calories meals and sedentary habits. BMI sample distribution was significantly decrease by sport making habit [r (2,7)= 0.109] and regular pondered meals [r (2,4)= -0.055]. The frequent snacking and the repressive effect of non-desirable overweight social model disseminate aggressively by friends and media increase the student’s weight control, especially in girl's case.