Differences Between Dietary, Drinking Habits and Physical Activity of the Adult Population Living in Two Distinct Geographic Areas of Romania

Abstract

The constantly and intensely changing modern society has a negative influence on the the general population�s health status. Risk factors being deeply inserted in the structure of the modern society can hardly be influenced and corrected. The aim of the study was the lifestyle- and diet-related comparison of two distinct adult populations from Romania: Bacau and Tirgu Mures. Material and methods: We evaluated the dietary habits, alcohol consumption and physical activity by a complex, validated questionnaire. Body mass index was also determined. The adult population from Tirgu Mures numbered 352 subjects, who were compared to the adults from Bacau, numbering 231 individuals. The considered threshold of significance was 0.05. Body mass index is over the normal range in more than 2/3 of the subjects. The overweight occurrence was 37.95%. The majority of the subjects (77.5%) has regular daily exercise (30 minutes or more). Daily alcohol consumption was present in 42.42% of the cases. Dietary habits were also analyzed: 61.9% of the subjects consume breakfast daily, and 46.94% of them consumes snacks between meals 2-3 times per week. A statistical difference could be observed regarding the frequency of breakfast consumption and body mass index (p-0.042): 2/3 of the studied adults from Tirgu Mures who eat breakfast sometimes having their body mass index over 25 kg/m2. Regarding physical activity a significant difference could be observed in case of those who responded rarely or never (p-0.027) (76.0% of Mures county with this response vs. only 24.0% in Bacau). The frequency of alcohol consumption is higher in Tirgu Mures and surroundings in case of once or several times per week consumption (p-0.005). Instructional and educational interventions targeting the development of healthier lifestyle habits in general population are worthy and needed to reduce the risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and reducing the burden upon the society of these diseases.