Factors associated with an active lifestyle in physical education students

a cross-sectional study

Resumen

This study aimed to associate active lifestyle indicators with study shifts (full-time and evening) and academic years (early and later) among Physical Education students from a public university in Northwestern Paraná, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and quantitative study with a sample of 56 students. Lifestyle indicators evaluated included physical activity level, body mass index (BMI), screen time, active transportation, weight change initiative, and sports participation. The results revealed a high prevalence of healthy behaviors, such as normal BMI (76.8%), regular physical activity (91.1%), active behavior (69.3%), and weight change initiative (84.9%). Conversely, lower rates were observed for low screen time (19.6%), active transportation (39.3%), and sports participation in high school (14.3%), at university (28.6%), and in extracurricular activities (30.4%). No significant differences were found in lifestyle indicators regarding study shifts or academic years. In conclusion, although students demonstrated a healthier lifestyle profile compared to the general population, risk behaviors such as physical inactivity in commuting and excessive screen time persist. These findings highlight the need for continuous health promotion strategies within the academic environment to encourage more active habits and reduce sedentary behaviors.