Health-Promoting and Sustainable Behavior in University Students in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Health-promoting and sustainable behaviors, such as active transportation and sustainable diets, are associated with positive effects on human health and the environment. In order to unlock the potential of university students as key actors and multipliers, it is of interest to investigate their level of knowledge about the health effects of climate change and their willingness toward and implementation of health-promoting and sustainable behaviors. In November 2021, an online survey was conducted among students at the University of Regensburg, Germany. A total of 3756 participants (response rate 18%; mean age 23 years; 69% women) provided valid data. A large proportion of medical students (48%) considered themselves well-informed about the health-related effects of climate change, while only a small proportion (22%) of students within economic/computer/data sciences and law felt informed. Most participants knew about the impact of climate change on malnutrition (78%), but considerably fewer were aware of its impact on cardiovascular diseases (52%). Participants who considered themselves informed were consistently more willing to engage in climate-friendly behavior, and this willingness was also reflected in their actions, as they simultaneously promoted a healthy lifestyle. Across all academic disciplines, there is a strong need for knowledge transfer regarding topics that combine health and sustainable development.

University Students as Change Agents for Health and Sustainability: A Pilot Study on the Effects of a Teaching Kitchen-Based Planetary Health Diet Curriculum

“…The goal of the PHD curriculum is not only to empower university students to make planetary health-literate decisions about their individual food choices, but also to equip them to make informed decisions about planetary health in their future professional role, which may include decision-making positions in politics, business, and society. While individual dietary choices, especially when made collectively, can have an impact on the food environment from a bottom-up approach, the decisions of individuals in influential positions can multiply this effect manifold and significantly influence public health, global health, and planetary health [ 14 , 58 ]. It can also be assumed that individuals with a strong understanding of planetary health literacy in the field of nutrition are likely to make more sustainable decisions in non-nutrition-related areas, as previous study results suggest that individuals who adopt sustainable dietary practices also tend to make more sustainable decisions in other aspects of their lives [ 59 ].…”

Exploring Sustainable Diets as a Climate Mitigation Strategy：

“…Knowledge regarding topics combining health and sustainable development must be transferred to promote sustainable behaviour (Weber, Kroiss et al, 2023). In enhancing the understanding of health and sustainability in diet, the role of nutritionists in changing people's behaviour in making dietary changes is undeniable.…”

“…Again, most scholars highlighted the benefits of increasing plantbased food in daily diets, which is crucial to improving health. The plant-based diet has been linked to various health benefits, including a reduced risk of noncommunicable diseases such as obesity (FADzLINA zuLKeFLI and Moy, 2021;Stubbs, Scott et al, 2018;Wang, L., Cui et al, 2021), cardiovascular diseases (Herrmann, Gonnet et al, 2023;Riccardi and Costabile, 2019;Weber, Kroiss et al, 2023), and diabetes (Barrett, 2022;Brons, Oosterveer et al, 2021;Havemeier, Erickson et al, 2017). Scholars have also explored the economic aspects, suggesting that shifting towards plant-based food in practising a sustainable diet could potentially lead to cost savings in healthcare expenditures due to improved long-term health (Broeks, Biesbroek et al, 2020;Mendoza-Vasconez, Landry et al, 2021;Nolden and Forde, 2023).…”