The role of lifestyle, physical activity and dietary practices in predicting overweight and obesity among university students in Morocco

Background The dietary quality of young adults often worsens during the transition to adulthood. University students, especially considering documented gender differences in eating habits, are prime targets for promoting healthy lifestyles to prevent noncommunicable diseases. Objective This study investigates the prevalence of overweight among students and analyzes disparities in physical activity, dietary practices, and the use of complementary medicine across genders, while also exploring factors influencing overweight. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 502 students aged 23 +/- 3.67 from Ibn Tofail University was conducted in the spring of 2023. Students completed a self-reported questionnaire addressing various lifestyle habits. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v23) to assess weight status, lifestyle habits, and gender differences. Results Results show that 21.10% of students are overweight, while 72.90% are not. A significant association was found between gender and physical activity levels (p <0.0001), as well as gender differences in meal frequency (p <0.01), snacking behaviors (p <0.01), and sleep duration (p <0.0001). Notably, during stressful periods, males and females differed in their consumption of high-fat, high-sodium snacks such as crisps (p <0.01). Additionally, the internet and social media were significantly associated with BMI variations (p <0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants who reported that the internet influenced their eating habits had 1.68 times higher odds of being overweight compared to those unaffected by the internet (p =0.02). Conclusion These findings underscore the influence of online content on dietary behaviors and highlight the importance of strategies to improve students' nutritional profiles, potentially reducing health risks associated with unhealthy lifestyles in the Moroccan population.