Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students
Background: Medical students are exposed to high cognitive demands as well as to a high learning effort, which as a consequence can lead to a limited quality of life (Qol) with reduced physical performance and unhealthy eating behaviors. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the abo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/24/5375 |
| _version_ | 1797455874170552320 |
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| author | Lukas Walnik Momme Kück Uwe Tegtbur Volkhard Fischer Arno Kerling |
| author_facet | Lukas Walnik Momme Kück Uwe Tegtbur Volkhard Fischer Arno Kerling |
| author_sort | Lukas Walnik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medical students are exposed to high cognitive demands as well as to a high learning effort, which as a consequence can lead to a limited quality of life (Qol) with reduced physical performance and unhealthy eating behaviors. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the abovementioned factors and their relationship to each other. Methods: We included 380 medical students (167 men, 213 women, age 22.2 ± 3.9 yrs) who participated in the sports medicine elective subject. Qol was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, and endurance capacity was measured by using an incremental running test. Daily dietary intake was measured using a 7-day diary protocol. Depending on sex and the maximum speed achieved, students were divided into three performance groups. Results: Men achieved higher maximal speed, heart rate, and lactate. Carbohydrates and fat intake did not meet recommendations in either group. Dietary fibre intake differed significantly between the performance groups in men and women, with the better groups having higher intakes. Conclusions: Our data do not suggest increased risk or health-damaging behaviors in medical students compared with the general population. Irrespective of this, incentives should be set to enable a healthy life even during complex studies with a high learning effort. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:00:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d9162a1f3ae430dabe663de4d74f866 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:00:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d9162a1f3ae430dabe663de4d74f8662023-11-24T17:10:13ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-12-011424537510.3390/nu14245375Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical StudentsLukas Walnik0Momme Kück1Uwe Tegtbur2Volkhard Fischer3Arno Kerling4Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, GermanyDean of Students Office, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, GermanyBackground: Medical students are exposed to high cognitive demands as well as to a high learning effort, which as a consequence can lead to a limited quality of life (Qol) with reduced physical performance and unhealthy eating behaviors. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the abovementioned factors and their relationship to each other. Methods: We included 380 medical students (167 men, 213 women, age 22.2 ± 3.9 yrs) who participated in the sports medicine elective subject. Qol was measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, and endurance capacity was measured by using an incremental running test. Daily dietary intake was measured using a 7-day diary protocol. Depending on sex and the maximum speed achieved, students were divided into three performance groups. Results: Men achieved higher maximal speed, heart rate, and lactate. Carbohydrates and fat intake did not meet recommendations in either group. Dietary fibre intake differed significantly between the performance groups in men and women, with the better groups having higher intakes. Conclusions: Our data do not suggest increased risk or health-damaging behaviors in medical students compared with the general population. Irrespective of this, incentives should be set to enable a healthy life even during complex studies with a high learning effort.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/24/5375medical studentsquality of lifenutritionSF-36physical performanceendurance capacity |
| spellingShingle | Lukas Walnik Momme Kück Uwe Tegtbur Volkhard Fischer Arno Kerling Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students Nutrients medical students quality of life nutrition SF-36 physical performance endurance capacity |
| title | Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students |
| title_full | Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students |
| title_fullStr | Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students |
| title_short | Physical Fitness, Nutrition and Quality of Life in German Medical Students |
| title_sort | physical fitness nutrition and quality of life in german medical students |
| topic | medical students quality of life nutrition SF-36 physical performance endurance capacity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/24/5375 |
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