Study Protocol of “Sustainably Healthy—From Science 2 Highschool & University”—Prevalence of Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets Linked to Sports & Exercise among Austrian Tertiary Students and Lecturers/Academic Staff

Katharina C. Wirnitzer (), Mohamad Motevalli, Derrick R. Tanous, Gerold Wirnitzer, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Armando Cocca, Manuel Schätzer, Werner Kirschner, Clemens Drenowatz and Gerhard Ruedl
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Katharina C. Wirnitzer: Department of Research and Development in Teacher Education, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria
Mohamad Motevalli: Department of Research and Development in Teacher Education, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria
Derrick R. Tanous: Department of Research and Development in Teacher Education, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, 6010 Innsbruck, Austria
Gerold Wirnitzer: AdventureV & Change2V, 6135 Stans, Austria
Karl-Heinz Wagner: Department of Nutritional Sciences and Research Platform Active Ageing, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Armando Cocca: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Manuel Schätzer: Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition—SIPCAN, 5061 Elsbethen, Austria
Werner Kirschner: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Clemens Drenowatz: Division of Sport, Physical Activity and Health, University of Teacher Education Upper Austria, 4020 Linz, Austria
Gerhard Ruedl: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-24

Abstract: Healthy lifestyle is the major indicator of individual and public health especially in target populations (e.g., during emerging adulthood). Evidence indicates that unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are strongly associated with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The dual approach of sustainable health (i.e., physical exercise tied to a healthy diet) is an effective lifestyle strategy to control and manage health-related disorders, including overweight/obesity. Based on the evidence on plant-based diets regarding health and considering the growing prevalence of vegans and vegetarians worldwide, limited data exist on the health-related behaviors of those who follow plant-based vs. mixed diets in young adulthood. This multidisciplinary study is the first to examine the association between diet type (mixed, vegetarian, and vegan diets) and various health-related behaviors (primarily physical activity, sport, & exercise) among college/university students and lecturers/academic staff in Austria nationwide. Following a cross-sectional study design and using online questionnaires, 4510 tertiary students and 1043 lecturers/academic staff provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, physical exercise habits, and other lifestyle behaviors (sleep, alcohol intake, smoking, etc.) along with information on health status and quality of life. While the data will be analyzed based on differentiated sociodemographic and health-related categories, the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors will also be evaluated. As a study protocol, this article represents comprehensive details of the design, purposes, and associated analytical measures of the present study within the tertiary educational context.

Keywords: emerging adulthood; lifestyle; physical activity; dietary behavior; diet type; plant-based; sustainable diet; conventional diet; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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