Estilo de vida, consumo de frutas y verduras asociados  al estreñimiento en universitarios de ciencias de la salud.

Introduction: Chronic constipation is a gastrointestinal disorder significantly decreases quality of life and is associated with an increased risk of serious health conditions, including colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease. Objective: To identify the association between lifestyle, fruit and vegetable consumption and constipation in Health Sciences undergraduates. Material and methods: Cross-sectional correlational study, conducted in 1,144 Peruvian students from public and private universities of health sciences. Fisher's exact test was applied for the association between variables, and binary logistic regression was also performed, the model will yield ORs (Odss Ratio) to determine the predictors of constipation. The predictor variables were age, sex, lifestyle and fruit and vegetable consumption. A significance level of p<0.05 was applied. Results: There was an association between vegetable consumption (p=0.016), portion of fruit per day (p=0.007), family history of chronic constipation (p=0.001), smoking (p=0.001) and consumption of alcoholic beverages (p=0.001) with constipation. It was also evidenced that women (OR=4.32; p<0.001), consuming peeled fruits (OR=1.55; p<0.003), smoking (OR=2.78; p<0.001), drinking alcoholic beverages (OR=1.87; p<0.001) and if any relative dad, mom or siblings suffer from chronic constipation (OR=3.30; p<0.001) have a higher risk of suffering from constipation (p<0.001). Likewise, there is a lower risk of suffering from constipation if fruit is consumed daily (OR=0.61; p<0.001). Conclusion: Consuming fruit daily decreases the risk of constipation than consuming peeled fruit without peel. Being female, smoking, consuming alcoholic beverages and having a family history of chronic constipation increase the risk of constipation.