Study of Lifestyle and Dietary Habits in Healthcare Providers and Factors Affecting them

Introduction: Lifestyle is one of the most important factors affecting our physical and mental health. Lifestyle is a combination of behavioral patterns and individual habitsthroughout each person s life. It has been said that about 70 percent of all diseases are somehow associated with lifestyle. By changing lifestyle and avoiding unhealthy habits, onset of many diseases could be prevented or delayed. This issue becomes more important in healthcare providers as influential people onhealth ofcommunity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study and the sample size was 270 people. They all were healthcare providers including physicians, dentists, nurses, technician, etc. The data collected by questionnaire, was analyzed through SPSS 16 using descriptive and analytic statistics. The questionnaire included questions about dietary habits and lifestyle main factors. Results: The studied sample average age was 28/7±5/2 years and it included 270 people.The average of Body Mass Index in them was 23/21 (Kg/m2). Results showed that 4% of the studied people were smokers. 57% of them believed that they are in proper mental states and about 34% evaluated themselves as stressful and disturbed person all time. 36/9% of people never or occasionally do physical activities. 15/2% weekly, 29/3% two or three times a week, and 19/3% of them do physical activities for at least 15 minutes daily. Also the results showed that 5/9% occasionally, 8/5% once a month, 27/4% once a week, 42/2% two or three times a week, and 15/9% of studied people used fresh vegetables daily. 3/4% occasionally or once a month, 8/9% once a week, 34/4% two or three times a week and 53/2% used fruits daily. There was a significant correlation between education level and diet habits (P<0/005). Also a significant correlation has been found between mental state and economic situation (P<0/0001). Conclusions: Results showed that some of lifestyle features and dietary habits were unhealthy in a significant percent of the studied people. These unhealthy habits are risk factors which can make people prone to different diseases in future. With awareness of people and planning to make changes in life style, especially dietary habits, incidence of many future diseases can be prevented or reduced.

کلیدواژه ها:

Lifestyle ، Diet ، Healthcare providers