1. Introduction
The transition to university results in changes in lifestyle, a distancing from the family nucleus, greater independence and an increase in social relations with the peer group [
1]. Many university students assume new responsibilities, becoming a vulnerable population group from the point of view of nutrition and lifestyle [
2,
3]. These new responsibilities can provoke a reduction of the time dedicated to do physical activity and also a decrease in the quality of diet, and as consequence of this, the body composition and physical fitness of the students can worsen considerably during the years of university [
2,
3]. Findings of studies conducted in several countries around the world have showed how insufficient activity, poor quality diet and smoking are serious health concerns among university students [
4,
5].
However, one study carried out in Spain has shown that university students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences tend to have a healthier lifestyle, a better cardiovascular profile and less body fat than students of other university disciplines [
6]. This may be owing to the curricula of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, which promotes an active and healthy lifestyle, in addition to having practical lessons in which students learn and partake in physical activity. To the best of our knowledge no other study has been carried out investigating lifestyle behaviours and health parameters in students of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences outside of Spain. It is therefore not known whether a similar profile exists among students in other countries.
Moreover, there are no studies comparing differences in body composition, physical fitness and lifestyle behaviours in students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences between countries, particularly Northern and Southern Europe where there are considerable differences in the physical and social environment. It is important to understand differences in body composition and lifestyle behaviours in university students from different countries to develop country-specific recommendations on health promotion to provide to students when transitioning to university.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the differences in body composition, physical fitness and lifestyle behaviours between students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences from two countries in Europe: Poland (Northern Europe) and Spain (Southern Europe).
3. Results
Results cover all the participants involved in the study, as a complete data set was obtained for all participants. Regarding body composition (
Table 1), Polish males had higher height, more FFM (kg), more TBW (kg) and higher BMR (kcal) than Spanish males (
p < 0.05). When BMR was analysed taking body composition parameters as covariates, significance was maintained (
p = 0.002).
In physical fitness, Polish males had greater power in SJ, greater height and power in CMJ, and lower times in running speed tests of 10 m and 20 m (
p < 0.05,
Table 2).
Spanish males had better physical activity habits than Polish males, participated in more vigorous physical activity (
p < 0.05), more moderate physical activity (
p < 0.05) and spent less time sitting (
p < 0.05) (
Table 3).
Spanish males consumed more seafood (
p < 0.05), more dairy products (
p < 0.05), less sugary drinks (
p < 0.05), less alcohol (
p < 0.05) and less tobacco (
p < 0.05). Polish males consumed more vegetables (
p < 0.05) and more liquids (
p < 0.05) (
Table 4).
In correlation analysis (
Table 5 and
Table 6), the three lifestyle variables with the greatest influence on body composition and physical fitness were: consumption of vegetables per day (positive influence in 14 variables), minutes of VPA per week (positive influence in 12 variables) and consumption of liquids per day (positive influence in eight variables).
4. Discussion
In comparison to Spanish students, Polish students had greater FFM (kg), greater TBW (kg), higher BMR, greater power in SJ, greater height and power in CMJ, lower times in running speed tests (10 and 20 m) and more consumption of vegetables and liquids. In comparison to Polish students, Spanish students did more physical activity, and consumed more seafood, more dairy products, less sugary drinks, less alcohol and less tobacco. Moreover, VPA and consumption of vegetables and liquids had positive influences on body composition and physical fitness. Therefore, these results may be explained because, although Spanish students did more physical activity, Polish students consumed more vegetables and liquids. Another possible reason is the different university curricula (more practical lessons in Poland). Other aspect to consider is the contribution of genetic factors in physical fitness [
17]. Also, Arriscado, Muros, Zabala and Dalmau [
18] found inverse relationships between the percentage of body fat with maximal oxygen uptake (
r = −0.524), lower body explosive strength (
r = −0.400) and speed performance (
r = 0.385), and this may explain why Polish students with more FFM (kg) have better physical fitness than Spanish students. Other studies carried out in China (
n = 4833) also found that VO
2max was markedly associated with FFM (
p < 0.001) [
19].
For a better understanding of these results, they can be compared with the results of other studies that analysed the same parameters in university students of other regions. Body weight in males from Gdansk was 78.80 ± 11.73 kg, in males from Murcia 75.31 ± 10.34 kg, and in other regions: male students from Madrid (Spain) 74.6 ± 6.2 kg [
3], male students of Medicine from Córdoba (Spain) 75.7 ± 11.3 kg [
20] and male students of Physical Education from Temuco (Chile) 73.9 ± 10.8 kg [
21]. In the same way, the height of Polish students (1.80 ± 0.06 m) was higher than in males from Murcia (1.78 ± 0.06 m) and other regions: male students from Madrid (Spain) 1.78 ± 0.1 m [
3], male students of Medicine from Córdoba (Spain) 1.78 ± 0.1 m [
20] and male students of PE from Temuco (Chile) 1.74 ± 0.1 m [
21]. These differences may be explained by genetic factors [
16].
However, BMI in males from Murcia was 23.64 ± 2.50, and in males from Gdansk (24.17 ± 3.18). Polish males had 14.28 ± 5.32 % of FM, while males from Murcia 14.73 ± 5.01, and in other regions: male students from Madrid (Spain) 16.5 ± 3.5 [
3], male students from Valencia (Spain) 18.75 ± 5.36 [
22], male students of Medicine from Córdoba (Spain) 22.95 ± 4.48 [
18] and male students of PE from Valparaíso (Chile) 22.7 ± 5.5 [
23].
Regarding cardiovascular endurance, the VO
2max of males from Gdansk was 49.86 ± 5.35 and of males from Murcia 48.64 ± 5.44, while in male students of Physical Education from Granada (Spain) it was 54.68 ± 7.16 [
24]. These differences may be due to the differences in metres above sea level (Gdansk 7 m, San Javier-Murcia 4 m and Granada 738 m) and its influence on VO
2 max [
25].
Despite of having more FFM (kg) and better physical fitness, male students from Gdansk did less MPA (160.12 ± 166.11 min/week) and less VPA (282.69 ± 199.31 min/week) than males from Murcia, who did 318.11 ± 675.01 min/week of MPA and 285.35 ± 183.11 min/week of VPA. A possible explanation for the different levels of physical activity found could be differences in the physical environment, social and political context of the countries studied. It is also noteworthy that participants in this study were more active than university students of other degrees different to Sport Science. For example, in a systematic review [
4] analysing university students’ participation in physical activity at the recommended level to acquire optimal health benefits (
n = 35,747 students from 27 countries), it was found that more than one-half of university students were not active enough to gain health benefits, while in the present study both Polish and Spanish students of Sport Sciences did enough physical activity, according to the international recommendations [
15].
With regard to tobacco, male students from Gdansk smoked 3.71 ± 5.72 cigarettes/day (39.5% were smokers), and males from Murcia 1.02 ± 2.95 cigarettes/day (16 % were smokers). These results can be compared with the study of Steptoe et al. [
5], who analysed, in the year 2000, the prevalence of smoking in European university students from 13 countries: Poland 26.3%, Spain 36.3%. The smoking prevalence in the other countries varied from 23.4% in Hungary to 47.4% in Portugal [
5]. These differences in lifestyle may be due to different cultures, traditions and weather in Northern and Southern Europe, but also to the implementation of efficient health policies since the year 2000.
The main strengths of the present study were the comparison between two different countries, the study of a high number of variables, and the validated tests used to evaluate body composition and physical fitness. The main limitation was that the questionnaire used to evaluate lifestyle was self-reported and not validated. This study was limited to males because there is a majority of males studying Sports Sciences in Poland and Spain. Also, as a convenience sampling was used, it was also limited to 3rd year students of Gdansk and Murcia. Therefore, our study was only representative of male 3rd year students, and our results can only be generalised to this group. Future research studies should analyse also females, students from other years and use other international samples, to have the opportunity to replicate this study with other nationalities, or even replicate it on different regions of Poland and Spain.