Young Workers and Lifestyles in a Mediterranean Cultural Context: What Is the Contribution of Occupational Health Promotion?

Adherence to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle is now a key component of workplace health promotion (WHP) programs. The primary objective of the study is the assessment of the need for the implementation of corrective WHP interventions aimed at improving the lifestyle in students belonging to health-related degree programs. A prospective observational epidemiological study through the recruitment of a sample of 242 young adult-equated workers at the Vanvitelli University in Naples was conducted. Two questionnaires were administered, one related to Mediterranean diet adherence (PREDIMED) and one concerning daily physical activity (IPAQ). A total of 56.6% of the participants were in the intermediate level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 24.0% low and 19.4% in the high level, with highly significant differences in the distribution between the groups. The chi-square test revealed a statistically significant association between groups and physical activity level (p = 0.0166). A statistically significant association was also found between gender and physical activity level (men showing high levels of physical activity). The analysis showed significant differences in adherence to the Mediterranean diet between the different students’ groups, with no gender-related differences. This study highlighted the need for a systematic and differentiated approach to WHP, differentiating the various groups.