Lifestyle and nutritional status among graduate students: characterization of associated dimensions

Abstract

Overweight and obesity represent a growing public health problem in populations with high educational levels exposed to stressors. This study aimed to characterize lifestyle dimensions associated with the nutritional status of graduate students at a public university in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used with a non-probabilistic sample of 309 students, who were assessed using the Lifestyle Scale (EEV), a 25-item modified version based on the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) by Walker  et  al. (1987) and adapted by Díaz et al. (2008). Data were processed using descriptive statistics in IBM SPSS v.26. The results indicated a 69% prevalence of overweight or obesity (mean BMI: 27.37 kg/m2 ). According to the instrument’s original cut-off points, 77% of participants were classified as having an unhealthy lifestyle. In the level-based analysis, a “medium” profile predominated; the nutrition (69% at medium level) and physical activity (46% at low level) dimensions showed the lowest scores, contrasting with higher scores in self-actualization and health responsibility. These findings indicate a disparity between self-care behaviors and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, highlighting the need for comprehensive institutional interventions.