Dietary habits, obesity and university life for nurse undergraduates

Abstract

students is often inadequate in
terms of dietary, physical
activity, smoking and alcohol
drinking habits. The main aim of
this position paper is to explore
dietary habits, obesity and
university life on nurse
undergraduates. This critical
review covers three distinct
dimensions of student life as
related to nursing studies, i.e. the
eating and lifestyle behaviors of
nursing students; the transitional
period and risk of gain weight;
students’ national origin and
eating behaviors.
Obesity is increasing not only in
the western world but in
developing countries as well.
University life is a transitional
period where risk of weight gain
is increased. Often, stress may
lead students to ‘binge’ eating
and weight problems. In terms of
students’ national origin and
eating behavior, dietary choices
for nurse students are multifaceted,
as their cultural backgrounds may be. Nurses,
amongst other healthcare
professionals, encounter barriers
to positive lifestyles and healthy
eating just as many of their
patients do. Moreover, as
healthcare professionals are
regarded as potential health
promoters, their own health
behavior represents an important
key clinical and educational
function.
Yet, nutritional knowledge is not
easy to apply as there is so much
misinformation readily available
both online and elsewhere.
Given the highly stressful
conditions associated with their
profession, nurses also need to
care for their own health. Thus
there is a need for designing
educational programs for current
nursing curricula to encourage
healthy lifestyles which include
coping with stress, increased
physical activity, healthy food
and drink choices.