Lifestyle and eating habits analysis of a working business community

INTRODUCTION: The analysis of the lifestyle is one of the most important aspects in terms of prevention of many chronic diseases. The questionnaires are one of the most direct and used methods for a first investigation for discovery sedentary and poor dietary habits. AIM: The aim of this study was to highlight the prevalence of some incorrect aspects of lifestyle and the prevalence of chronic diseases in a working community. METHODS: It was investigated a sample from a working community of a pharmaceutical company in Tuscany. We used questionnaires translated into Italian language whose content was extracted from validated models in the international literature: INRAN for eating habits and Physical Activity Stages of Change for tendency to exercise. RESULTS: 95 subjects, 58 female (F) and 37 male (M) aged 42.0±0.7 yrs, completed the questionnaire. Only 12% were smokers, the prevalence of chronic diseases was 35% (67% F and 33% M). The active population was 75% of the whole group, only 25% were sedentary. The percentage of the gender into the active subjects was similar. In 51% of cases physical activity was regularly practiced more than once a week, while 13% did it only once. For eating habits, food intolerances were in 8%, the choice of food is in prevalence for consumption of fruits, cereals and dairy products, low consumption of fish and alcohol. The meat consumption was in the average. The perception of their general quality of life is at the highest level, in 70% of the community the score reached is in the range from 60-90%. CONCLUSION: The lifestyle’s questionnaires represent now a valid system for the evaluation of risk factors closely related to cardiovascular risks. Questionnaires can be used for their positive implications for the educational role on the general population. The results obtained confirm the sensitivity of the working realities to undergo to these investigations.