{"id":948,"date":"2021-02-19T09:31:54","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T08:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uni.science2.school\/?page_id=948"},"modified":"2026-03-21T11:01:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T10:01:43","slug":"from-science-2-highschool-university","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uni.science2.school\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"From Science 2 Highschool & University"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sustainably healthy \u2013 From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/strong><\/h1><\/span>
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Survey of the prevalence of sports & physical exercise linked to different kinds of diets
\namong Austrian colleges and universities<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Join us in the Austrian-wide college & university study!<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/i> is the first study in which a scale of movement patterns are linked to various kinds of diets (traditional, current trends) in the tertiary educational context.<\/p>\n

In order to make informed statements, a large number of subjects are needed.<\/p>\n

Through an online survey as part of this Austria-wide college & university study, we would like to examine all students and academic staff on the topics of physical exercise & sports, nutrition, and health.
\nTherefore, we cordially invite all students and academic staff of Austrian colleges and universities to take part!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Be part of it!<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Austria, there are approximately 102 colleges and universities with 376,050 students and 69,310 academic staff.<\/b><\/p>\n

In order to successfully carry out this college & university study and obtain robust results, it is important that all students and academic staff participate.<\/b><\/p>\n

Together we can set a milestone: <\/span>every individual counts!<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

Be there, join us, and many thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Aim<\/h2><\/span>
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From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/em>\u00a0is based at the University College of Teacher Education Tyrol (PHT \u2013 P\u00e4dagogischen Hochschule Tirol) in the area of Sport Didactics\/Sport Pedagogy within the Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development (expert team: \u201ePhysical Activity, Sports & Health\u201c) and will be carried out as a didactical research project in cooperation with the Department of Sport Science (ISW \u2013 Institut f\u00fcr Sportwissenschaften) Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck (LFUI), the Department of Physical Activity, Sports and Exercise at the University College of Teacher Education Upper Austria (PHO\u00d6 \u2013 P\u00e4dagogischen Hochschule Ober\u00f6sterreich) and the Department of Nutrition Science at the University of Vienna.<\/p>\n

This Austria-wide college and university study is funded by the Tiroler Wissenschaftsf\u00f6rderung<\/strong> (TWF), and supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research<\/strong> (BMBWF \u2013 Bundesministerium f\u00fcr Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung, Abteilung I\/7 \u2013 Schul- und Universit\u00e4tssport), as well as by the Austrian Students\u2019 Union<\/strong> (\u00d6H \u2013 \u00d6sterreichische Hochsch\u00fcler_innenschaft).<\/p>\n

This interdisciplinary project (Sports Science, Nutrition Science) is the\u00a0first study<\/strong>\u00a0to survey the prevalence of different diets linked to physical exercise & sports participation in the tertiary educational context.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Motivation<\/h3><\/div>
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According to the WHO, 71% of deaths worldwide are due to chronic (so-called non-communicable) diseases1<\/sup>.
\nSenior citizens and adults at the later stages of life are not alone in facing increasing rates of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and their risk factors (e.g. obesity, physical inactivity), but also more and more children, adolescents and young adults are progressively developing the same diseases through physical inactivity\/lack of exercise in connection with obesity. Health experts indicate overweight\/obesity as a global crisis and the lack of exercise\/physical activity as the most serious health problem of the 21st century.<\/p>\n

Physical exercise & sports, as well as nutrition, are generally considered \u201cmedicine\u201d. Exercise and eating habits are key factors for good or poor health; their influence together is of crucial importance for the prevention or the development of chronic (so-called non-communicable) diseases.
\nTogether, physical exercise & sports, and nutrition offer a particularly promising solution to the current dramatic health situation of adults (and youth). In Austria, 41 % of the 18- to 64-year-old population2,3<\/sup> or 47 % of the 15- to 75+ population3<\/sup> are overweight\/obese4<\/sup>, and 19 % (2017)2<\/sup> to 49.5 % (2014)5<\/sup> of the 18- to 64-year-olds do not meet the WHO\u2019s minimum weekly physical activity recommendation2<\/sup>. This means that more than half of Austrian adults (54%) exceed the reference values for energy intake2<\/sup>. However, there is no information about the current exercise and nutrition trends of Austrian college and university students and academic staff6,7<\/sup>.
\nIn particular, healthy nutrition8-10<\/sup> together with regular exercise & sport11-13<\/sup>, especially outdoors in nature14<\/sup>, is crucial for health and well-being due to the risk reduction regarding the more devastating chronic diseases. The WHO therefore recommends, especially in times of a pandemic (currently e.g. COVID-19), regular exercise and sport in combination with a healthy diet as effective measures during the period of self-quarantine15,16<\/sup> to maintain a strong immune system and to achieve and maintain an effective immune defense. In Austria, during the COVID-19 measures, 54% of adults followed a health-conscious lifestyle, 47% followed a healthy diet, and 67% were physically active at least once a week (Allianz Austria, 2020)17<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Exercise and eating habits are important factors influencing health. Together, these behaviors can be of decisive influence for the prevention or development of chronic (so-called non-communicable) diseases. Permanently linked, these two influencing factors offer maximum potential through their cumulative effects with regard to sustainable health. As a health measure, this dual-health approach can therefore be regarded as \u2018Best Practice\u2019 and thus as a minimum recommendation for sustainable and lifelong health.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Intention<\/h3><\/div>
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Currently, information exists about sport & physical exercise behavior in Austria, but the level of information about current dietary trends in Austria is limited to adults and the overall general population. In particular, information is lacking regarding current dietary trends of young adults1<\/sup> in the tertiary educational context \u2013 meaning that there is no information available about the current dietary trends of Austrian students or academic staff.<\/p>\n

Therefore, this college and university study was designed to examine for the first time the relationship between physical activity levels and kind of diet (mixed diet, vegetarian, vegan) in the tertiary educational context, taking a large sample into account.<\/p>\n

This research project combines the two lifestyle areas of exercise & sport and nutrition, and thus builds on two essential influencing factors with regard to sustainable health. From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/em> was created as a follow-up to the school study \u201aFrom Science 2 School \u2013 Nachhaltig gesund: bewegt & veggie\u2018<\/a> in order to transfer scientific results to educational research at the tertiary level and to permanently implement in the college and university settings.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Aim<\/h3><\/div>
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The aim of this college and university study is, therefore, for the first time, to collect and scale the prevalence of current physical activity behavior in connection with traditional (mixed food) and alternative kinds of diet (vegetarian, vegan) among students and academic staff at Austrian colleges and universities.<\/p>\n

From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/em>\u00a0aims to contribute to the current limited data situation on adults regarding nutritional trends and the complete lack of information on students and academic staff especially, in order to expand the level of epidemiological and didactic knowledge.<\/p>\n

In Austria, there are approximately 376,050 students and 69,310 academic staff at 102 colleges and universities<\/strong>. The size of the potential sample is therefore approximately 445,360 participants in the tertiary educational context.<\/p>\n

From Science 2 Highschool & University<\/em>\u00a0is based on this impressive number and aims to use this survey to generate a representative data set to be able to reflect on health behavior results in the tertiary educational setting. Through the joint participation of all Austrian colleges and universities,<\/strong> the largest possible sample could be achieved in order to obtain particularly meaningful results. It is therefore important that as many students and academic staff take part in the Austria-wide survey as is possible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Purpose<\/h3><\/div>
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It is the first study to determine the prevalence of various kinds of diet linked to exercise and sports in the tertiary educational context in Austria.<\/p>\n

This college and university study, therefore, has the potential to make a significant contribution to mapping current social trends, particularly the respective peer groups of students and academic staff, by applying the results to the college and university environment.<\/p>\n

The results should serve as a basis for reflecting on existing curricula for education, training and advanced courses as well as exercise and nutrition offerings for health promotion in the tertiary educational context to develop recommendations, concrete measures and possible courses of action (e.g. curricula, exercise & sports offers, community catering through buffets, canteens and\/or dining facilities). Regarding the tertiary health offer, the results of this study can serve as a basis for the design of future health opportunities for inexpensive, simple and effective health promotion at Austrian colleges and universities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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(1) WHO (2020a) Noncommunicable diseases. https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/noncommunicable-diseases#tab=tab_1<\/a> (23. 11. 2020)
\n(2) \u00d6sterreichsicher Ern\u00e4hrungsbericht 2017: https:\/\/broschuerenservice.sozialministerium.at\/Home\/Download?publicationId=528<\/a> (1. 10. 2020)
\n(3) \u00d6ffentliches Gesundheitsportal \u00d6sterreichs: https:\/\/www.gesundheit.gv.at\/aktuelles\/archiv-2017\/ernaehrungsbericht-2017<\/a> (1. 10. 2020)
\n(4) Statistik Austria, Body Mass Index (BMI), Gesundheitsbefragung 2014 (1. 10. 2020): https:\/\/www.statistik.at\/web_de\/statistiken\/menschen_und_gesellschaft\/gesundheit\/gesundheitsdeterminanten\/bmi_body_mass_index\/105608.html<\/a>; https:\/\/www.statistik.at\/web_de\/statistiken\/menschen_und_gesellschaft\/gesundheit\/gesundheitsdeterminanten\/bmi_body_mass_index\/025420.html<\/a>; https:\/\/www.statistik.at\/web_de\/statistiken\/menschen_und_gesellschaft\/gesundheit\/gesundheitsdeterminanten\/bmi_body_mass_index\/index.html<\/a>
\n(5) Statistik Austria, K\u00f6rperliche Aktivit\u00e4t in der Freizeit, K\u00f6rperliche Aktivit\u00e4t 2014 (1. 10. 2020): http:\/\/www.statistik.at\/web_de\/statistiken\/menschen_und_gesellschaft\/gesundheit\/gesundheitsdeterminanten\/koerperliche_aktivitaet\/index.html<\/a>; http:\/\/www.statistik.at\/web_de\/statistiken\/menschen_und_gesellschaft\/gesundheit\/gesundheitsdeterminanten\/koerperliche_aktivitaet\/index.html<\/a>
\n(6) STATISTA, Statistiken zu Vegetarismus und Veganismus in \u00d6sterreich: https:\/\/de.statista.com\/themen\/3804\/vegetarismus-und-veganismus-in-oesterreich\/<\/a> (1. 10. 2020)
\n(7) Vegane Gesellschaft \u00d6sterreich: https:\/\/www.vegan.at\/inhalt\/9-leben-vegetarisch-oder-vegan<\/a> (1. 10. 2020)
\n(8) Childs CE, Calder PC, Miles EA (2019) Diet and Immune Function. Nutrients, 16;11(8):1933. doi: 10.3390\/nu11081933.
\n(9) de Faria Coelho-Ravagnani C, Campos Corgosinho F, La Flor Ziegler Sanches F, Marques Maia Prado C, Laviano A, Mota JF (2020) Dietary recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nutr Rev, 2020 Jul 12;nuaa067. doi: 10.1093\/nutrit\/nuaa067.
\n(10) Craddock JC, Neale EP, Peoples GE, Probst YC (2019) Vegetarian-Based dietary patterns and their relation with inflammatory and immune biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Adv Nutr 10: 433-451.
\n(11) American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (2020) Staying Physically Active During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Tips: staying active at home. Available from: https:\/\/www.acsm.org\/read-research\/newsroom\/news-releases\/news-detail\/2020\/03\/16\/staying-physically-active-during-covid-19-pandemic<\/a> (3. 12. 2020)
\n(12) Chen P, Mao L, Nassis GP, Harmer P, Ainsworth BE, Li F (2020) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): The need to maintain regular physical activity while taking precautions. J Sport Health Sci, 9(2):103-104. doi: 10.1016\/j.jshs.2020.02.001.
\n(13) Jakobsson J, Mal, C, Furberg M, Ekelund U, Svensson M (2020) Physical activity during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: prevention of a decline in metabolic and immunological functions. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, April 2020, Vol 2, 57. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fspor.2020.00057<\/a>
\n(14) Mitchell R, Popham F. (2008) Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study. The Lancet; 372(9650): 1655-60.
\n(15) WHO (2020b) Stay physically active during self-quarantine. Available from: https:\/\/www.euro.who.int\/en\/health-topics\/health-emergencies\/coronavirus-covid-19\/publications-and-technical-guidance\/noncommunicable-diseases\/stay-physically-active-during-self-quarantine<\/a> (3.12. 2020)
\n(16) WHO (2020c) Food and nutrition tips during self-quarantine. Available from: http:\/\/euro.who.int\/en\/health-topics\/health-emergencies\/coronavirus-covid-19\/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-technical-guidance-OLD\/food-and-nutrition-tips-during-self-quarantine?fbclid=IwAR0IxmHZqgX-uwgq0cNTsDM3BdHUogV8EcFbqiY3olALGzBP_hbzW6AwYnA<\/a> (3. 12. 2020)
\n(17) Allianz \u00d6sterreich (2020) https:\/\/www.ots.at\/presseaussendung\/OTS_20201216_OTS0048\/oesterreichs-lebensstil-in-der-corona-krise-jeder-zweite-lebt-zurzeit-bewusst-gesund<\/a> (29. 1. 2021)<\/h6>\n<\/div>
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Timescale<\/h2><\/span>
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Demands<\/h3><\/div>
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The online survey is available from March to June 2021 and October 2021 to January 2022, therefore students have (almost) the entire summer semester 2021 or winter semester 2021\/22 to take part in the college and university study.<\/p>\n

The demands for participating in this college and university study are low:<\/p>\n