Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study
There is a paucity of data on whether Australian university students are meeting specific nutrient guidelines, and the relationship between diet and physical activity patterns with body composition and metabolic health. In this study, biomedical students from The University of Queensland were recrui...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3500 |
| _version_ | 1797513571717873664 |
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| author | Linda A. Gallo Tania F. Gallo Sophia L. Young Amelia K. Fotheringham Johanna L. Barclay Jacqueline L. Walker Karen M. Moritz Lisa K. Akison |
| author_facet | Linda A. Gallo Tania F. Gallo Sophia L. Young Amelia K. Fotheringham Johanna L. Barclay Jacqueline L. Walker Karen M. Moritz Lisa K. Akison |
| author_sort | Linda A. Gallo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a paucity of data on whether Australian university students are meeting specific nutrient guidelines, and the relationship between diet and physical activity patterns with body composition and metabolic health. In this study, biomedical students from The University of Queensland were recruited (150 males and 211 females, 19–25 years), and nutritional intake (ASA24-Australia) and physical activity levels (Active Australia Survey) quantified. Body composition (height, waist circumference, body mass, BMI, and percentage body fat; BOD POD) and metabolic health (oral glucose tolerance test) were also measured. Median daily energy intake was 6760 kJ in females and 10,338 kJ in males, with more than 30% of total energy coming from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Only 1 in 10 students met fruit or vegetable recommendations, with less than one third meeting recommendations for fibre, calcium, and potassium. Intakes of calcium and iron were particularly low among female students, with only 16% and 6% of students meeting the recommended dietary intake (RDI), respectively. The majority of males and almost half of all females exceeded the suggested dietary target (SDT) for sodium. Sufficient physical activity (≥150 min over ≥5 sessions per week) was met by more than 80% of students. Body composition and blood glucose concentrations were largely normal but an early sign of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.0), measured in a subset of students, was present in 21% of males and 17% of females. Modest reductions in blood glucose levels and percentage body fat were associated with increasing vigorous activity. Low intakes of fibre, calcium, and potassium could be corrected by increasing fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake, and, among females, health promotion messages focusing on iron-rich foods should be prioritised. While these nutrient deficiencies did not translate into immediate metabolic heath concerns, dietary behaviours can track into adulthood and have lasting effects on overall health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:18:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad82a8f1dfff4960a8ef63ffd93e09cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:18:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad82a8f1dfff4960a8ef63ffd93e09cf2023-11-22T19:29:29ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-10-011310350010.3390/nu13103500Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional StudyLinda A. Gallo0Tania F. Gallo1Sophia L. Young2Amelia K. Fotheringham3Johanna L. Barclay4Jacqueline L. Walker5Karen M. Moritz6Lisa K. Akison7School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaNorth Melbourne Football Club, Arden Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051, AustraliaSchool of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaMater Research Institute—The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, AustraliaMater Research Institute—The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, AustraliaSchool of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaThere is a paucity of data on whether Australian university students are meeting specific nutrient guidelines, and the relationship between diet and physical activity patterns with body composition and metabolic health. In this study, biomedical students from The University of Queensland were recruited (150 males and 211 females, 19–25 years), and nutritional intake (ASA24-Australia) and physical activity levels (Active Australia Survey) quantified. Body composition (height, waist circumference, body mass, BMI, and percentage body fat; BOD POD) and metabolic health (oral glucose tolerance test) were also measured. Median daily energy intake was 6760 kJ in females and 10,338 kJ in males, with more than 30% of total energy coming from energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Only 1 in 10 students met fruit or vegetable recommendations, with less than one third meeting recommendations for fibre, calcium, and potassium. Intakes of calcium and iron were particularly low among female students, with only 16% and 6% of students meeting the recommended dietary intake (RDI), respectively. The majority of males and almost half of all females exceeded the suggested dietary target (SDT) for sodium. Sufficient physical activity (≥150 min over ≥5 sessions per week) was met by more than 80% of students. Body composition and blood glucose concentrations were largely normal but an early sign of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.0), measured in a subset of students, was present in 21% of males and 17% of females. Modest reductions in blood glucose levels and percentage body fat were associated with increasing vigorous activity. Low intakes of fibre, calcium, and potassium could be corrected by increasing fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake, and, among females, health promotion messages focusing on iron-rich foods should be prioritised. While these nutrient deficiencies did not translate into immediate metabolic heath concerns, dietary behaviours can track into adulthood and have lasting effects on overall health.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3500blood glucosedietexerciseinsulin resistanceobesityyoung adults |
| spellingShingle | Linda A. Gallo Tania F. Gallo Sophia L. Young Amelia K. Fotheringham Johanna L. Barclay Jacqueline L. Walker Karen M. Moritz Lisa K. Akison Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study Nutrients blood glucose diet exercise insulin resistance obesity young adults |
| title | Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Adherence to Dietary and Physical Activity Guidelines in Australian Undergraduate Biomedical Students and Associations with Body Composition and Metabolic Health: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines in australian undergraduate biomedical students and associations with body composition and metabolic health a cross sectional study |
| topic | blood glucose diet exercise insulin resistance obesity young adults |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/10/3500 |
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