Lifestyle profile and body mass index of an academic community in rondônia

Abstract

A healthy lifestyle is directly linked to the person’s choices regarding physical activities, diet, stress management, relationships with other people and the environment, and preventive behaviour concerning habits that can harm health. Conducted from media resources, the present research aimed to evaluate the Lifestyle Profile of students and employees of the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), relating the lifestyle profile with the body mass index. The sample consisted of 976 women and 521 men, totalling 1,497 people aged 21 to 74 (31.812±8.955), 1,356 academics, 68 teachers and 73 technicians. Lifestyle was evaluated through the Lifestyle Profile questionnaire. Eating habits, Physical activity, Preventive behaviour, relationships, and control of stress were assessed. For each aspect of these five components, score: varied from 0 to 18. Body mass index (BMI) was determined by dividing weight by the square of height. Data were analysed using XLST 2023, an Excel data analysis complement and Spearman's coefficient was used to assess the relationship between BMI and lifestyle profile components, considering a 95% confidence interval and significant correlation for p < 0.05 from the Student's t-test (Spearman). The statistical analysis of the studied variables showed, according to Spearman's test, a positive correlation (p < 0.05) between BMI and Age and a negative correlation (p < 0.05) between BMI and Physical Activity, BMI and Preventive Behaviour, and BMI and Relationships. Therefore, BMI is associated with the ageing process, increasing with age. On the other hand, the higher the BMI, the lower the scores in Physical Activity, Preventive Behavior and Relationships, in other words, the higher the BMI, the greater the need for changes in the Lifestyle Profile with regard to these three components. The analysis of the Lifestyle Profile indicated that more than 50% of the sample lived a sedentary lifestyle, which also required improving eating habits. Regarding BMI, more than 43% were overweight or obese. Research by Melo et al. (2021) in the same academic community concluded that public policies are needed to prevent overweight and obesity, as well as malnutrition, and to promote healthy habits. It is concluded that BMI presents a positive correlation with age and a negative correlation with the components of the Lifestyle Profile: Physical Activity, Preventive Behaviour, and Relationships. This suggests the need for institutional measures within the University to promote a more physically active lifestyle with healthy habits in relation to preventive behaviour and relationships.