Diet and lifestyles of young women of childbearing age: an Italian survey

Lifestyles and behaviours in Italian young women

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Abstract

Background. Daily lifestyles play a pivotal role in influencing the preconception health of women in their childbearing years. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to delineate, within the Italian context, the lifestyles of young women of childbearing age, that may have repercussions on their preconception health.
Methods. From July 2020 until April 2021, an anonymous online questionnaire was administered to a sample of 340 women aged 18-25 years attending secondary grade schools and universities in Italy.
Results. Over the course of the preceding three days, 90.29% of women had meat, 45.59% had fish. 28.24%, 38.82% and 18.53% of women reported tobacco, alcohol and drugs consumption, respectively. The mean amount of folic acid taken through foods consumed was 341 μg/day. Only 53.53% of women did sports. Smokers were more frequently consuming alcohol and drugs. Women who never did sports, were more likely to use drugs.
Conclusions. Young women in our sample had suboptimal dietary habits. It is imperative to advocate for policies and interventions that endorse healthy dietary patterns and physical activity, improve knowledge and discourage young women from smoking, alcohol consumption and drug use.

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Authors

Drieda Zaçe - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

Emanuele La Gatta - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

Luigi Petrella - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

Alessia Orfino - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

Anna Maria Viteritti - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

Maria Luisa Di Pietro - Centro di Ricerca e Studi sulla Salute Procreativa, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italia

How to Cite
Zaçe, D., La Gatta, E., Petrella, L., Orfino, A., Viteritti, A. M., & Di Pietro, M. L. (2024). Diet and lifestyles of young women of childbearing age: an Italian survey: Lifestyles and behaviours in Italian young women. Annali dell’Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, 60(2). https://doi.org/10.4415/ANN_24_02_02
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