Integrated Behavioral Profiles of Physical Activity and Dietary Intake in Young Adults and Their Associations with Lower Limb Injury Occurrence
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: To delineate integrated lifestyle profiles combining physical activity (PA) and dietary intake (DI) and test their links with lower limb injury in physically active young adults. <b>Methods</b>: We analyzed a cross-sectional convenience sample of university students (men: <i>n</i> = 91, 20.5 ± 1.0 years; women: <i>n</i> = 118, 20.3 ± 0.8 years). PA (IPAQ) and DI (QEB) were assessed alongside self-reported injuries. Latent class modeling derived PA-DI profiles. Injury prevalence across profiles was compared (χ<sup>2</sup>), and logistic regression examined injury odds adjusting for sex, age, and BMI. <b>Results</b>: Four profiles emerged. Two reflected less healthy patterns (Profiles 2-3) and two healthier ones (Profiles 1, 4). Profile 4 showed higher vegetables/legumes/fermented milk and lower fast food/sugary drinks; Profile 3 combined greater sitting and fried/sweetened items with lower walking/milk intake. Overall injury prevalence was 56.9%, ranging from 44.1% (Profile 2) to 66.7% (Profile 4 exceeded Profile 2 in pairwise comparison (χ<sup>2</sup> (1) = 5.08, <i>p</i> = 0.024)). In adjusted models, men had higher injury odds (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.09-3.48, <i>p</i> = 0.025); profile membership was not independently predictive, and profile × sex interactions were null. <b>Conclusions</b>: Young adults cluster into distinct PA-DI patterns that differ behaviorally, but sex-rather than profile-was the most consistent correlate of injury. Prevention should integrate lifestyle screening with sex-specific strategies.
Authors
- Jarosław Domaradzki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8057-3033)
Institutions
- Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Published
- 2025-10-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17203196
- Primary Topic
- Health and Wellbeing Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00