INTRODUCTION:

Unhealthy lifestyle factors tend to co-occur and are associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases. OBJECTIVES: To assess lifestyle patterns of Portuguese young adults and its associations with nutritional status and self-perceived health.

METHODOLOGY:

The study sample comprises young adults (18-35 years) from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese population, 2015-2016 (n=1026). Computer-assisted personal interviews were performed to collect dietary intake (non-consecutive 2*24h recalls), alcohol consumption (food propensity questionnaire), physical activity (IPAQ and sitting time), sleep time, and smoking habits. A Healthy Eating Index was defined based on World Health Organization recommendations. Latent class analysis was executed to identify lifestyle patterns. Logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between patterns and outcomes (self-perceived health, overweight/obesity, waist-to-hip ratio).

RESULTS:

Two latent classes were identified: LC1- “Healthier diet, alcohol, and tobacco behaviors” (63.3% females; 53.4% 26-35yrs) and LC2- “Less sedentary and unhealthier alcohol and tobacco behaviors” (lower sitting time, higher probability of smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages) (42.4% females; 61.2% 26-35yrs). Individuals in the LC2 pattern have increased odds of higher protein, trans fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, and sodium intake, however, these associations are energy dependent. After adjustment for confounders and age-stratified analysis, individuals aged 18-to-25yrs in the LC2 pattern reported poorer perceived health (OR=3.20, 95%CI:1.97;5.24) and increased odds of central obesity (OR=2.44, 95%CI:1.16;5.24). However, adults aged 26-to-35yrs presented lower odds of overweight/obesity (OR=0.67; 95%CI=0.47;0.95).

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings highlight how lifestyles cluster in Portuguese young adults, showing differential aggregation of diet and physical activity with the remaining behaviors. Also, less sedentary individuals aged 18-to-25 years with unhealthier alcohol and smoking behaviours presented more central adiposity and worse perceived health. However, the 26-to-35-year age group in the same pattern was less frequently obese.

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