Food habits and occurrence of changes in lipid metabolism in resident and non-resident university with family

Abstract

Dyslipidemia consists of a change related to lipid metabolism and is among the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases in the world, affecting different populations, especially university students. Admission to the university is a stage full of biopsychosocial changes and among them, leaving the parents’ home is directly related to changes in eating habits and consequently changes in lipid metabolism. In this study, the eating habits and the lipid profile of a population of 86 university students living with or without their parents, from a higher education institution in Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brazil, were evaluated. Of the 86 participants in the study; 55.8% were female, and 44.2% were male; 95.4% of university students presented poor or irregular eating habits, and only 4.6% presented healthy eating. The most common changes in the lipid profile were hypertriglyceridemia and decreased HDL-c. From the results of the present research, it is possible to conclude that university students living with their parents are more likely to adopt poor eating habits and develop dyslipidemias. The more active participation of higher education Institutions in campaigns that promote more information about the advantages of adopting a healthier lifestyle would constitute an important preventive action for university students.