A Cross-Sectional Study of University Surroundings and Obesity Risk Among European Students: Findings from the EDU-FIT Project

Recognizing the importance of healthy habits, the EDU-FIT project aims to promote awareness and healthy lifestyles among students, shaping them as future leaders of healthier societies. We performed an analysis of best practices in developing healthy lifestyle habits among students. The study encompassed 1533 students with a demographic skew towards females (72%), a median age of 21 years, and a median BMI of 23 kg/m². Most were in early study years, primarily in Natural and Applied Sciences. Notably, there was high percentage of students who didn't reside in their home region (69%), raising concerns about access to university cafeterias (20% lacked access) and high reliance on takeaway food (80%). Despite 30% lacking access to exercise facilities, over 80% engaged in physical activity at least three times weekly, indicating a potential need for improved facilities. The absence of courses focused on healthy habits in university programs highlights a significant gap in promoting student well-being. This prompts the question: is university solely for education or also for nurturing well-being? EDU-FIT underscores that both knowledge and health are vital for future success.