Health risk behavior of Brazilian university men

Abstract

The insertion of men in the university environment is a complex and worrying phenomenon permeated by vulnerabilities, which are associated with the adoption of risky behaviors for health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the health behavior of Brazilian university men. A cross-sectional study with 663 men students. The study used a questionnaire on health-related life habits. All the questions were extracted from the Surveillance of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases through Telephone Interviews. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals and chi-square tests. The analysis of the joint relationships between nutritional status, physical activity and diet was conducted by the multiple correspondence analysis. Of the 663 students, 67.8% were between 20-29 years of age, 69.2% consumed alcohol, 34.5% did not do physical activity, and 34.2% were overweight. The students who did not engage in physical activity smoked more (p=0.05), consumed less fruit (p<0.01), less salad (p<0.01), and consumed full fat milk (p=0.05). In the physically inactive students, a high prevalence of acquiring diabetes mellitus (p<0.01) and high cholesterol (p<0.01) was observed. University students were found to have unhealthy lifestyles. More public policies aimed at promoting preventive measures at universities are needed to encourage healthier health behaviors. La insercion de los varones en el ambito universitario es un fenomeno complejo y preocupante permeado por vulnerabilidades, las cuales estan asociadas a la adopcion de conductas de riesgo para la salud. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el comportamiento de salud de los varones universitarios brasilenos. Estudio transversal con 663 varones. El estudio utilizo un cuestionario sobre habitos de vida relacionados con la salud. Todas las preguntas fueron extraidas de la Vigilancia de Factores de Riesgo y Proteccion de Enfermedades Cronicas mediante entrevistas telefonicas (Vigitel). Se utilizo la regresion logistica para estimar los odds ratios (OR) y los intervalos de confianza del 95% and pruebas del test chi-cuadrado. El analisis de las relaciones conjuntas entre estado nutricional, actividad fisica y dieta se realizo mediante el analisis de correspondencias multiples. De los 663 varones, el 67,8% tenia entre 20 y 29 anos, el 69,2% consumia alcohol, el 34,5% no hacia actividad fisica y el 34,2% tenia sobrepeso. Los varones que no realizaron actividad fisica fumaron mas (p = 0,05), consumieron menos fruta (p<0,01), menos ensalada (p<0,01) y consumieron leche entera (p = 0,05). En los varones fisicamente inactivos, se observo una alta prevalencia de diabetes mellitus (p<0,01) y colesterol alto (p<0,01). Se descubrio que los varones universitarios tenian estilos de vida poco saludables. Se necesitan mas politicas publicas orientadas a promover medidas preventivas en las universidades para fomentar comportamientos de salud mas saludables.