Study Protocol of “Sustainably Healthy—From Science 2 Highschool & University”—Prevalence of Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets Linked to Sports & Exercise among Austrian Tertiary Students and Lecturers/Academic Staff

Abstract

Healthy lifestyle is the major indicator of individual and public health especially in target populations (e.g., during emerging adulthood). Evidence indicates that unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are strongly associated with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. The dual approach of sustainable health (i.e., physical exercise tied to a healthy diet) is an effective lifestyle strategy to control and manage health-related disorders, including overweight/obesity. Based on the evidence on plant-based diets regarding health and considering the growing prevalence of vegans and vegetarians worldwide, limited data exist on the health-related behaviors of those who follow plant-based vs. mixed diets in young adulthood. This multidisciplinary study is the first to examine the association between diet type (mixed, vegetarian, and vegan diets) and various health-related behaviors (primarily physical activity, sport, & exercise) among college/university students and lecturers/academic staff in Austria nationwide. Following a cross-sectional study design and using online questionnaires, 4510 tertiary students and 1043 lecturers/academic staff provided data on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns, physical exercise habits, and other lifestyle behaviors (sleep, alcohol intake, smoking, etc.) along with information on health status and quality of life. While the data will be analyzed based on differentiated sociodemographic and health-related categories, the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle behaviors will also be evaluated. As a study protocol, this article represents comprehensive details of the design, purposes, and associated analytical measures of the present study within the tertiary educational context.

Health behavior of Austrian tertiary students focusing on diet type linked to sports and exercise—first glimpse of results from the “sustainably healthy—from science 2 high school and university” study

“…The study protocol was approved by the ethics board of the associated tertiary educational entities; students from 52 of the total 102 Austrian colleges/universities (> 50%) participated. Further information is available in the study protocol ( 73 ).…”

“…The online survey was provided in German and was based on self-report or self-assessment (LimeSurvey, version 3.25.15). The questionnaire consisted of six parts, including personal information (Part A), sports and exercise (Part B), nutrition (Part C), health and well-being (Part D), COVID-19 pandemic (Part E), and miscellaneous (Part F) ( 73 ). The survey was developed based on both the previous school study as its extension ( 72 ) as well as a comprehensive review of relevant literature, including validated questionnaires, large-scale scientific studies/reports, and recognized literature from renowned scientists, all of which are available in the study protocol ( 73 ).…”

“…The questionnaire consisted of six parts, including personal information (Part A), sports and exercise (Part B), nutrition (Part C), health and well-being (Part D), COVID-19 pandemic (Part E), and miscellaneous (Part F) ( 73 ). The survey was developed based on both the previous school study as its extension ( 72 ) as well as a comprehensive review of relevant literature, including validated questionnaires, large-scale scientific studies/reports, and recognized literature from renowned scientists, all of which are available in the study protocol ( 73 ). Participants were asked to respond to single-choice items, multiple-choice items, and choose and weigh their preferences among several options, which should be considered during data analysis and interpretation.…”

“…Participants were asked to respond to single-choice items, multiple-choice items, and choose and weigh their preferences among several options, which should be considered during data analysis and interpretation. However, considering the scope of the project ( 73 ), the present manuscript/study covers a general overview of the data, focusing on prevalences based on diet type and PA habits of participants.…”

“…For each type of sport/exercise engagement (i.e., leisure-time and sports club), participants were also categorized into those who engage in sport/exercise and those who do not. With regard to the frequency of sport/exercise (irrespective of the type of engagement), participants were assigned to three categories: “0–1 day/week,” “2–4 days/week,” and “5–7 days/week.” More detailed methodological information regarding the measuring tools and components can be find in the study protocol ( 73 ) as well as on the projects’ website (See footnote 1).…”