Men's health eating habits, health status and health behaviour of young Austrian men aged 17 to 20 years in context to their lifestyles

Background: Most studies about men's health focus on adults aged 50 years and older. But it is largely unknown whether and to what extent health behavior in young men represents risk factors for the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases in later life.

Methods: Within this cross-sectional study 1369 young men in lower Austria aged 17 to 2o years were anthropometrically investigated and interviewed about their lifestyle (nutrition, health-related behavior and physical activity) at their investigation on the suitability of the Austrian Armed Forces. The health status was determined on the basis of biochemical parameters and compared with those of ten years ago.

Results: Anthropometric data (body weight and hight, waist circumference) and health-relevant characteristics (nutritional habits, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking habits) as well as the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors except blood lipid and glucose levels show a clear increase in unhealthy attributes in the period of 10 years among those young men. 29 percent of 17 – 20 year old men are overweight, 46 percent are smokers, 80 percent consume alcohol and around one third do not participate in sport.

Conclusion: The health-detrimental tendencies increased in the last ten years considerably in the target group of young men. Efficient prevention campaigns are urgently necessary to promote and continually support a health-conscious life-style in young health.

Key words: young men, nutrition, health behavior, physical activity, life styleAlpha