Doctorado en Nutrición y Alimentos, Escuela de Posgrado, Universidad San Ignacio De Loyola, Lima, Perú.
Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Unión, Lima, Perú.
PLoS One. 2024 Feb 23;19(2):e0299317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299317. eCollection 2024.
Evidence shows that a healthy lifestyle can promote physical and mental well-being in the general population. However, there are few studies that assess the adherence to a healthy lifestyle in vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in adherence to a healthy lifestyle between vegetarian and non-vegetarian university students in Peru.
A cross-sectional study was carried out considering data from 6,846 students selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Diet and Healthy Lifestyle Scale (DEVS), the Peruvian validation of the Vegetarian Lifestyle Index (VLI), was used. In addition, sociodemographic and anthropometric data such as weight and height were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated.
Semi-vegetarian and vegetarian students had a high healthy lifestyle score compared to non-vegetarians. In addition, vegetarian diets showed a significantly higher proportion among students with a lower BMI (normal and underweight). Students with excess body weight (overweight and obesity) were less likely to report healthy lifestyle. In the overall population analyzed, it was observed that the levels of health and lifestyle behaviors, such as daily exercise and sunlight exposure, were mostly moderate and low. Additionally, sweets intake was high, while healthy food consumption such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains was low.
The current findings show that although vegetarians had better adherence to a healthy lifestyle, interventions in the university setting are needed to improve healthy lifestyle in university students.
有证据表明，健康的生活方式可以促进普通人群的身心健康。然而，很少有研究评估素食者和非素食者大学生对健康生活方式的遵守情况。本研究的目的是评估秘鲁素食者和非素食者大学生对健康生活方式的遵守情况的差异。
本研究采用横断面研究，考虑了通过非概率便利抽样选择的 6846 名学生的数据。使用了饮食和健康生活方式量表（DEVS）和经过秘鲁验证的素食生活方式指数（VLI）。此外，还收集了社会人口学和人体测量学数据，如体重和身高。还计算了体重指数（BMI）。
半素食和素食学生的健康生活方式评分明显高于非素食者。此外，素食饮食在 BMI 较低（正常和体重不足）的学生中表现出更高的比例。超重（超重和肥胖）的学生不太可能报告健康的生活方式。在分析的总体人群中，观察到健康和生活方式行为（如每天运动和晒太阳）的水平大多处于中等和低水平。此外，甜食摄入量较高，而水果、蔬菜、豆类和全谷物等健康食品的摄入量较低。
目前的研究结果表明，尽管素食者对健康生活方式的遵守程度较好，但需要在大学环境中进行干预，以改善大学生的健康生活方式。
