From Science 2 School

Peer reviewed / Manuscript (overview) submitted: 26 July 2023; revision accepted: 3 January 2024

A study on the diet and exercise behaviour of Austrian students and teachers/school principals

Introduction

A healthy lifestyle is of great importance at every stage of life. However, childhood and adolescence play particularly key roles due to the strong connection between behaviours in early years and later lifestyle choices, resulting in overall health status. On the one hand, habits are developed early in life and are usually maintained into adulthood. On the other hand, it is widely agreed that the origins of many chronic diseases occurring in adulthood, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, can be traced back to childhood and adolescence [1–3]. Individuals who have adopted a health-promoting lifestyle in childhood therefore have a better chance of maintaining good health in adulthood [4], whereas health problems that arise in childhood often persist into adulthood and can develop into more serious diseases [5]. Early intervention is therefore crucial to prevent serious health disorders [1–5].

The special importance of diet and exercise

While several lifestyle factors can positively or negatively influence young people's health, dietary and physical activity behaviours are considered particularly crucial for growth, development and performance, as well as being cornerstones of health promotion and disease prevention [6, 7]. ...

Abstract

As part of the multidisciplinary cross-sectional study "From Science 2 School", the lifestyle behaviour of Austrian secondary school pupils, teachers and school principals was surveyed using a large sample with the help of an online questionnaire. For the first time the frequencies and distribution of various dietary patterns were linked with physical activity and sports in the school context.
Of the 8,799 pupils included, 84.3% followed a traditional (mixed) diet, 8.5% were vegetarian and 7.2% were vegan. 7.1% were overweight and 4.7% were obese. Of the 1,350 teachers and school principals who took part, 89.3% reported a mixed diet, while 7.9% were vegetarians and 2.9% were vegans. 25.6% were overweight and 8.8% were obese. Vegetarians had the lowest obesity rate. In addition, significant correlations were shown between regular physical activity and a higher consumption of fruit, vegetables and water (p < 0.01), and among pupils, between a vegan diet and a higher level of leisure time activity (p < 0.01). These findings can serve as a basis for recommendations aimed at promoting long-term healthy lifestyle habits within the school context.

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