Desarrollo y aplicación de un sistema de evaluación combinada de ejercicio físico, de alimentación y de variables psicológicas en jóvenes universitarias

Abstract

Introduction

Obesity is a major health problem in developed countries. The design of evaluation systems which allow the combined assessment of prevention factors of overweight and obesity related to a healthy lifestyle is necessary. The aim of this study is to develop and implement a system of for the combined assessment of the physical exercise and diet behaviours, and psychological variables related to adherence. The system has been applied in female university students, comparing results based on their level of physical exercise.

Method

The study included 38 female university students (22.64 ± 2.61) years old, classified into three groups: 12 Athletes, 12 Active women, and 14 Non-Active women. They completed a battery of questionnaires about physical exercise, eating habits, and psychological aspects related to adherence. Their anthropometric measurements were recorded and they performed fitness tests.

Results

The Athletes group showed greater muscular strength and endurance (P = .003), more minutes of previous exercise practice (P = .019) and current exercise practice (P > .001), and less emotional role (P = .031), compared to the other groups. The main motivations for all participants were health, stress reduction, enjoyment, and cardiorespiratory fitness improvement, the latter being higher in the Non-Active group (P = .043). The barriers score was higher in the Non-Active group, being significantly higher for the “unwillingness to be constant” (P = .001) and “lack of time” (P = .014). No significant differences in diet and mood states were found.

Conclusion

The developed and implemented evaluation system allowed us to obtain a holistic approach to the participants, noting a clearly differentiated profile in relation to variables for exercise and fitness, although there was no clear relationship with variables relating to diet and psychological profile.