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Exercise, Physical Fitness, and Dietary Habits of First-Year Female Nursing Students

School of Nursing at the Instituto Médico Basurto at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

Susana Gil, MD, PhD

Instituto Médico Basurto at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain, Basque Institute of Physical Education at the University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain

Fátima Ruiz, BSc

Instituto Médico Basurto, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

Juan Gondra, MD, PhD

Instituto Médico Basurto at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

Andoni Jauregi, MD

Instituto Médico Basurto at the University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

Jon Irazusta, PhD

Instituto Médico Basurto, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain

Javier Gil, PhD

Instituto Médico Basurto, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain, ofpgigof{at}lg.ehu.es

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the practice of regular physical exercise, the anthropometrical and physiological characteristics, and the dietary habits of a group of female nursing students (n = 46) and of a control group of female students from other disciplines (n = 58) attending the University of the Basque Country. To this end, diets and leisure-time physical exercise were analyzed and the following variables were measured: body mass index, body composition, blood pressure, maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), and explosive muscle strength. Results show that the percentage of sedentary students was higher among first-year nursing students (50%) than among other matched students (43.6%). Regular physical exercise in nursing students was found to be positively correlated with higher absolute (p < .01) and relative VO₂ max (p < 0.05) and with lower diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Analysis of the diets of the nursing students showed that their energetic intake was deficient and was very low in carbohydrates and very high in fat and protein. Statistically significant differences between the two groups in anthropometric indices were not observed. The competence to provide adequate nutritional and preventive physical exercise recommendations was higher among active final-year nursing students than among sedentary final-year nursing students. Overall, the results of the present study highlight the need for a greater emphasis on the benefits of regular physical exercise and an adequate nutritional education early in the nursing educational program to encourage students to adopt healthier behaviors and to provide more effective preventive physical exercise and nutritional counseling for their future patients.

Key Words: nutrition • exercise • physical fitness • nursing student • anthropometry • aerobic capacity

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