Valoración de hábitos de alimentación, actividad física y condición nutricional en estudiantes de la pontificia universidad católica de Valparaíso

Chile is living a nutritional and health transition characterized by an increase in chronic diseases, most of them related to eating patterns and physical inactivity, requiring promoting healthful lifestyles especially in university student population. In this study, 321 students from the Catholic University of Valparaiso were randomly selected and surveyed on nutritional habits and physical activity patterns. Nutritional status was classified according to their body mass index (BMI). The results showed that most of the students present a low consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products and fish, and an excessive consumption of sugar and fat. More than 60% of subjects were sedentary and 26% were overweight or obese. The habits evaluated in this population of young people project a high incidence of obesity and chronic diseases in their adult life.