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Abstract
University is a critical time where students are more prone to engage in risky health behaviors known to negatively affect well-being, such as physical inactivity, stress, and poor dietary habits. A health promoting lifestyle is an important determinant of health status and is recognized as a major factor for the maintenance and improvement of health. This study was designed to assess the health-promoting lifestyle of students in Health University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Methodology:
A total of 375 students participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Data gathering was conducted at Rawalpindi Medical University. Participating students completed a self-reported questionnaire that included questions regarding their demographic characteristics and their health-promoting behaviors.
66℅females and 33%males were included in this study. 74% of the participants were of normal weight and 7.9% were overweight. The analysis showed that there was a significant association between gender wise and year of study wise comparison with regards to the factor of health responsibility. Students were found to have an inadequate level of adherence to recommendations regarding physical activity and healthy eating habits. The analysis also found that majority of the students do not attend educational programs on health care. The model shows that gender, type of college, year in school, and family structure were significant predictors of the health lifestyle of students in Pakistan.
Conclusion:
The results of the current study indicate that university students are leading unhealthy lives, where the majority of them have unhealthy eating habits and poor physical activity level. Universities are ideal settings for implementing health promotion programs. Therefore, planning and implementing programs to motivate students to be more responsible for their own health, to engage more in physical activity, and to practice healthy eating habits and other forms of wellness are of paramount importance.