Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.

<h4>Purpose</h4>This study examines health perceptions, self and body image, physical exercise and nutrition among undergraduate students.<h4>Methods</h4>A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to more than 1500 students at a large academic institute in Isr...

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Main Authors: Liat Korn, Ester Gonen, Yael Shaked, Moria Golan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/23516503/pdf/?tool=EBI
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author Liat Korn
Ester Gonen
Yael Shaked
Moria Golan
author_facet Liat Korn
Ester Gonen
Yael Shaked
Moria Golan
author_sort Liat Korn
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Purpose</h4>This study examines health perceptions, self and body image, physical exercise and nutrition among undergraduate students.<h4>Methods</h4>A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to more than 1500 students at a large academic institute in Israel. The study population was heterogenic in both gender and fields of academic study.<h4>Results</h4>High correlations between health perceptions, appropriate nutrition, and positive self and body image were found. The relationships between these variables differed between the subpopulation in the sample and the different genders. Engagement in physical exercise contributed to positive body image and positive health perceptions more than engagement in healthy nutrition. Nutrition students reported higher frequencies of positive health perceptions, positive self and body image and higher engagement in physical exercise in comparison to all other students in the sample.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study suggests, as have many before, that successful health promotion policy should reflect a collectivist rather than an individualist ethos by providing health prerequisites through a public policy of health-promotion, where the academic settings support a healthy lifestyle policy, by increasing availability of a healthy, nutritious and varied menu in the cafeterias, and offering students various activities that enhance healthy eating and exercise. IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION: This study examined health perceptions, self-image, physical exercise and nutrition among undergraduate students and found high correlations between these topics. Nutrition students reported higher frequencies of positive health perceptions, and positive self and body image and engaged more in physical exercise when compared with all other students in the sample.
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spelling doaj.art-b6afb9d5162d4095beb6e058cfc8740f2022-12-21T21:32:19ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-0183e5854310.1371/journal.pone.0058543Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.Liat KornEster GonenYael ShakedMoria Golan<h4>Purpose</h4>This study examines health perceptions, self and body image, physical exercise and nutrition among undergraduate students.<h4>Methods</h4>A structured, self-reported questionnaire was administered to more than 1500 students at a large academic institute in Israel. The study population was heterogenic in both gender and fields of academic study.<h4>Results</h4>High correlations between health perceptions, appropriate nutrition, and positive self and body image were found. The relationships between these variables differed between the subpopulation in the sample and the different genders. Engagement in physical exercise contributed to positive body image and positive health perceptions more than engagement in healthy nutrition. Nutrition students reported higher frequencies of positive health perceptions, positive self and body image and higher engagement in physical exercise in comparison to all other students in the sample.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study suggests, as have many before, that successful health promotion policy should reflect a collectivist rather than an individualist ethos by providing health prerequisites through a public policy of health-promotion, where the academic settings support a healthy lifestyle policy, by increasing availability of a healthy, nutritious and varied menu in the cafeterias, and offering students various activities that enhance healthy eating and exercise. IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION: This study examined health perceptions, self-image, physical exercise and nutrition among undergraduate students and found high correlations between these topics. Nutrition students reported higher frequencies of positive health perceptions, and positive self and body image and engaged more in physical exercise when compared with all other students in the sample.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/23516503/pdf/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Liat Korn
Ester Gonen
Yael Shaked
Moria Golan
Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
PLoS ONE
title Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
title_full Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
title_fullStr Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
title_full_unstemmed Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
title_short Health perceptions, self and body image, physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in Israel.
title_sort health perceptions self and body image physical activity and nutrition among undergraduate students in israel
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/23516503/pdf/?tool=EBI
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AT moriagolan healthperceptionsselfandbodyimagephysicalactivityandnutritionamongundergraduatestudentsinisrael