Physical activity patterns and dietary habits of undergraduate students

Authors

Ebenezer Essaw, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow
Monday Omoniyi Moses, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow
Daniel Afrifa, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow
Isaac Kwaku Acheampong, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow
Winifred Mensah, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow
Lemuel Owusu, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaFollow

Abstract

Background: ‪Data about physical activity report card for Ghanaian children and youth are available but reports on physical activity patterns and dietary habits of undergraduates are scarce. Material and methods: ‪This cross-sectional study sampled 278 participants (161 males, 117 females, mean age = 20.73 ± 1.72 years). Blood pressure, heart rate, physical activity patterns and dietary habits were measured. Results: ‪Most (83.1%) of the sample predominantly engaged in household activities. Time spent on treadmill/ cycling activities is significantly higher in females than males (P = 0.018). Day/week for high intensity sports was higher in males (P = 0.005), while household work was significantly higher in females (P = 0.032). Few people observed breakfast. There was poor consumption of soft drinks, vegetables, fresh fruits, dairy products, fast-foods, fried foods, and cake/biscuit twice/three times a week; 70.3% seldom consumed energy drinks; 49.8% ate the main meal daily. Males significantly had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.014) and consumed fried foods habitually more often than females (P = 0.026). Conclusions: ‪Participants mainly involved in low physical activities and consumed less than recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables per week. Proactive and regular health-enhancing physical activity interventions would stimulate participation and healthy dietary habits of university students.

Recommended Citation

Essaw E, Moses MO, Afrifa D, Acheampong IK, Mensah W, Owusu L. Physical activity patterns and dietary habits of undergraduate students. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2019;11(1):115-123. doi: 10.29359/BJHPA.11.1.12

DOI

10.29359/BJHPA.11.1.12

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.