Clustering of physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetables intake and associated factors in young adults

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cluster of physical inactivity and low fruit and vegetable intake and the associated factors in university students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample (n=717) of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco students. Low fruit and vegetable intake was defined as an intake of less than five servings a day and physical inactivity was defined as exercising less than 150 minutes a week. The independent variables were gender, age, socioeconomic status, school year, shift, and study time. Clustering was determined by comparing the observed prevalence with the expected prevalence for all possible risk-factor combinations. Logistic regression analysis, performed by the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 17.0 with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05), considered the presence of both risk behaviors adjusted to the independent variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of low fruit and vegetable intake was 81.7% (CI95%=78.1-84.3) and of physical inactivity was 65.8% (CI95%=62.2-69.4). Most students (58.6%, CI95%=55.3-62.2) were exposed to both risk factors simultaneously, while 11.0% (CI95%=8.9-13.5) were exposed to neither. Full-time students have a risk 1.45 times greater of simultaneous exposure. Juniors and seniors are, respectively, 1.88 and 2.80 times more likely to present both risk behaviors. CONCLUSION: Although complex, the behaviors are modifiable, and both the healthy and the unhealthy behaviors tend to cluster. The implementation of an intervention that targets both risk behaviors is needed. Different strategies can be used, such as providing areas for physical activity and for learning about healthy and risk behaviors.