Physical Development and Dietary Habits of Students at the Faculty of Physical Education and at the Faculty of Medicine in Iasi

The students at the Faculty of Physical Education (Kinesiotherapy section) and at Medicine must be careful concerning physical development and diet, in order for them to become role models for patients. Paper purpose and objectives: the assessment of physical development using body mass index; the assessment of dietary habits. Material and methods The study was conducted on a sample of 114 students within the Kinesiotherapy section of the Physical Education Faculty (51 young students) and within the Faculty of Medicine (63 students). They filled out a weekly food intake questionnaire. We have analized the results using Pearson's test. Findings In the research sample, 74.56% of the young people recorded normal values of the BMI and 18.42% overweight values. The differences calculated are statistically significant (p.0.05) and they draw attention on the young people within the Kinesiotherapy section, among whom the overweight percentage is higher. Breakfast is absent from the daily schedule of 26.32% of the young people, with significant differences (p.0.05), and they also concern mainly the Kinesiotherapy section these students skip morning food intake more often. Milk is featured in menus mostly 2-3 times a week, as well as eggs (39.47%), the differences calculated being statistically insignificant (p>0.05). Bread is featured in menus, especially daily (42.98%) with statistically insignificant differences per faculties (p>0.05). Fruits are present in menus mostly 23 times (34.21%), just like sweets (32.45%), with statistically insignificant differences (p>0.05). Conclusions Among students within the Kinesiotherapy section, an alarming aspect is the inadequate distribution of food within the daily schedule, which should be improved.