Unhealthy Lifestyle and Nutritional Habits Are Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases Regardless of Professed Religion in University Students

Silvia Navarro-Prado, Jacqueline Schmidt-RioValle, Miguel A. Montero-Alonso, Ángel Fernández-Aparicio and Emilio González-Jiménez
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Silvia Navarro-Prado: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 52071 Melilla, Spain
Jacqueline Schmidt-RioValle: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Miguel A. Montero-Alonso: Department of Statistics and O.I. Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Ángel Fernández-Aparicio: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 52071 Melilla, Spain
Emilio González-Jiménez: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: To date, few studies have evaluated the possible association between religion and nutritional habits, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk in the university population. This study identified differences in the eating habits of Christian and Muslim university students and determined a possible association between the impact of religion on their lifestyles and the parameters related to cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional study was performed with a sample population of 257 students (22.4 ± 4.76 year) at the campus of the University of Granada in Melilla (Spain). An anthropometric evaluation and a dietary assessment were performed. Blood pressure was also measured. There was a higher prevalence of overweight (29.1%) among Christian university students. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was similar between Christians and Muslims (48.3%) but was higher among Christian males (74.5%). Christian students presented higher levels of visceral fat. Students of both religions ingested carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids and total cholesterol, proteins, sodium and alcohol in excess. Significant positive correlations were found between food energy, sweets, snacks, soft drinks and body mass index (BMI) in both sexes and between the consumption of sausages-fatty meats and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body adiposity index (BAI) variables. Muslim students were less likely to consume alcohol (odds ratio [OR] = 7.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.27, 14.54). Christian and Muslim students presented improvable lifestyles and intake patterns. The high intake of saturated fatty acids, total cholesterol, sodium and alcohol in Christian students could lead to the early development of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: lifestyle; eating habits; cardiovascular disease; university students; religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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