Needs and interests regarding the lifestyle habits of students in a Canadian university

ABSTRACT

Objective: In this study, we investigate university students to learn about their barriers to improving and/or maintaining a healthy lifestyle and their needs and interests regarding the development of a tailored intervention to promote physical activity and a healthy diet.

Participants: The qualitative research included three focus groups consisting of 22 university students.

Methods: The interview grid was developed around the variables of the ecological Conceptual Framework of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services. Data were analyzed using NVivo software.

Results: Time constraints due to a heavy workload, high costs and low motivation were the reasons students failed to participate in physical activity and/or adopt a healthy diet. Furthermore, they perceived that on-campus food and physical activity are more expensive and the quality of food is poorer.

Conclusions: Students are nevertheless interested in the development of a tailored intervention to promote physical activity and a healthy diet.

Keywords:

• Healthy diet
• healthy lifestyle
• physical activity
• students
• university

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the Fonds de développement académique du réseau (FODAR) of the Université du Québec for its support.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Canada and received approval from the ethics committee of Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.

Funding

Funding from Fonds de développement académique du réseau (FODAR) of the Université du Québec was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.