Background:

with student entrance in Universities, less healthy behaviors can begin, which can extend to other phases of life, leading to a lower quality of life.

Objectives:

to identify the lifestyles of nursing students and recognize factors that hinders or facilitates healthy lifestyles.

Methodology:

it was a qualitative (participatory) study, with adopted “photovoice” methodology, applied in two Higher Education Institutions in Portugal central region. The data collection was made between may and june 2017. The sample involved 16 students aged between 18 and 28 years.

Results:

most students include in their lifestyle: intensive study; lack of time; unhealthy eating and poor balance between personal and academic life. The factors that facilitate healthy lifestyles are the media, while those that make it difficult are the lack of time and resources, advertising and influences.

Conclusion:

the data reflect the urgent need to act in the adoption of healthy lifestyles. It is essential that higher education institutions create learning environments that promote healthy lifestyles among their students.