1. Introduction

In late December 2019, an emerging infectious disease named COVID-19 was identified and became a global pandemic. Countries around the world implemented various mechanisms to curb such infection and mitigate it. Mandatory social isolation was one of them, with drastic effects in social and economic fields [1, 2], especially in the lifestyle of people around the world and in particular of university students [3]. Changes in dietary habits during the COVID-19 pandemic were complex. While an increase in the preparation of home-cooked meals was observed, which could suggest an improvement in nutritional quality, an increased consumption of ultra-processed foods was also detected [4]. These changes were influenced by various factors, such as the economic situation, food availability, and changes in the family environment. Consequently, the healthy lifestyles of college students will vary according to the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits such as physical activity, nutrition, social relations, and psycho-emotional and spiritual aspects, which, if properly maintained, guarantee the integral development of the person [5]; otherwise, they can cause serious health problems.

The pandemic has led to increased levels of stress among students, resulting in disruptions in the daily lives and eating patterns of university students worldwide. This trend has been most evident among women, and there has been an increase in the prevalence of eating disorders [6, 7]. World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the university student population, an important segment of the young adult population, faces significant lifestyle changes, generally as a result of alterations in their eating patterns, sleep, and the intensity of their studies [8, 9]. Previous studies have shown that college students frequently adopt unhealthy lifestyles, characterized by smoking, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption. These habits increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, overweight, and mental disorders [10]. The pandemic has exacerbated this problem, further altering the eating and physical activity habits of college students [11]. Confinement, associated with increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and less physical activity, raised concerns about the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, overweight, and mental disorders [12].

In today’s world, disease prevention and health promotion are key priorities that are influenced by lifestyle factors such as sleep quality, diet, body weight, physical activity, and substance use. These behaviors are essential for reducing disease risk and improving overall health [13]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, college students showed increased physical and mental health disorders, poor nutrition, and decreased physical activity, which significantly affected their overall health and lifestyle [14]. Studies also highlight that significant lifestyle changes among students may persist beyond the pandemic [15, 16]. The United Nations in 2022 indicates that in Latin America and the Caribbean, 22.5% of people do not have sufficient means to access a healthy diet. In the Caribbean, this percentage increases to 52% of the population, in Mesoamerica, the figure is 27.8%, and in South America, it is 18.4%. While the region is a significant global food provider, it has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Rising rates of undernourishment, food insecurity, and obesity have been observed, which have been identified as risk factors for adverse COVID-19 outcomes [17].

Most of the studies conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyles have been carried out in the general population and have concluded that lifestyle modifications during the contingency have had a negative impact on the health of the population [2, 18, 19]. A study conducted on college students during the pandemic revealed that they had unhealthy lifestyles and a moderate association between chronotype and unhealthy lifestyles revealing a risk situation in the future [8]. Another recent study shows that college students’ health and well-being during the pandemic varied, and daily experiences were influenced by both individual characteristics and contextual factors, highlighting the need for targeted interventions [20]. In Peru, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived unexpectedly, and it was not possible to establish whether university students had managed to internalize the health care they should have, based on the lifestyles they practiced. The context of the pandemic led young people to spend more time at home, to be less active, and to have less social interaction, with detrimental consequences for their health and emotional well-being [21]. On the other hand, the Peruvian Ministry of Health has indicated that remaining passive most of the time leads to overweight and obesity problems. This organization recommends practicing at least four healthy habits such as physical activity, adequate nutrition, reduction of alcohol consumption, and avoidance of tobacco consumption [22]. Unfortunately, research also reveals that college students do not always make the best decisions when it comes to their health. The present study aimed to examine the quality of healthy lifestyle practices in university students of the Faculty of Human Medicine and the Faculty of Education of a Peruvian university during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Materials and Methods

3. Results

4. Discussion

In order to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the healthy behaviors of university students, this study compared the lifestyles of medical and education students during and after the health crisis. Three key dimensions were analyzed in depth: physical activity, nutrition, and substance use. The results have allowed us to identify patterns and trends that could be relevant for the promotion of healthy habits in the university context. The results did not show significant differences in the remaining seven dimensions of the instrument. However, students showed, in general, a good level of healthy lifestyles. These findings are consistent with another study that reported a high quality of life in this population, suggesting a positive general well-being [26, 27]. Our findings are consistent with other research revealing that quarantines and social distancing protocols by COVID-19 have had a profound impact on most students as they adopted a healthier lifestyle [28, 29]. While some aspects have been negatively affected, opportunities to promote healthier habits have also been observed. The findings indicate that the combination of virtual classes and daily dietary adjustments positively influenced participants’ lifestyle during the health crisis. Our results further acknowledge individual variations in the physical and emotional state of the students as a function of gender and age. Furthermore, they are in agreement with those of Pišot et al. [30], who observed healthier eating habits in the respondents.

The results of the nutrition dimension revealed that students were at a good level; however, human medicine students excelled in general. These results coincide with another study where it was concluded that students’ nutrition was moderate [31]. Furthermore Espinoza-Gutierrez, Yance-Cacñahuaray, and Runzer-Colmenares [32] found that medical students during COVID-19 confinement stage opted for healthy eating habits on a regular basis and preventive behaviors, but daily physical activity was predominantly low compared to the present study whose results were good. Other studies supporting our findings indicated that good health correlates with healthy eating habits practiced [11, 22]. Consistent with our findings, the study by Perez et al. [33] emphasizes the need for students to adopt a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity or sport, adequate rest, and abstention from harmful habits. Other studies that support our findings reveal that students during COVID-19 confinements presented good to fair general health [32, 34]. In this line, we could assert that human medicine students had a better nutritional behavior, probably directed by the knowledge acquired in their professional training, since, in medicine there is a strong emphasis on wellness and health, in addition to complementing with subjects related to nutrition. Regarding physical activity, although both faculties showed good results in 2020, a decrease was observed in 2023. This reduction could be attributed to the resumption of face-to-face academic activities and the adaptation to new routines, which has led to a modification of the healthy habits acquired during confinement.

In contrast to the results obtained in the study of Health Sciences students at the Simón Bolívar University, where cardiovascular risk factors such as physical inactivity, inadequate diet, and excessive fat consumption were identified [10], our findings in human medical students show a slightly different health profile. This suggests that there are significant differences in health profiles between the two student populations. Our results indicate that students from both faculties maintained adequate dietary habits and satisfactory levels of physical activity during confinement, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies [35, 36]. Furthermore, the results suggest that students from both faculties possessed a solid foundation of knowledge and practices regarding healthy lifestyles, which enabled them to cope with confinement in a more adaptive manner. While human medical students demonstrated better performance in terms of healthy habits, this could be attributed to their academic background in health care [37]. However, data from 2023 reveal a decrease in the adoption of these healthy habits compared to previous studies [38], suggesting that, although knowledge is important, it does not guarantee consistent practice of healthy lifestyles.

Our findings show a healthy lifestyle, balanced with physical activity routines, adequate rest, and the adoption of healthy habits. This fact, together with a follow-up of health authorities’ recommendations, could have played a protective role in mental health, limiting the negative influence of COVID-19. These results coincide with previous research carried out in Spain, which reported that university students had a healthy and balanced lifestyle [39]. It is important to consider that the results in university students differ from the results found in adult populations in general. Studies conducted in Argentina have shown a deterioration of healthy eating habits, which placed the population at greater risk during the pandemic [3]. Similar results were found in the United Kingdom where they found risk factors in more than 51% of the population in the pandemic stage [40], while in Mexico, sleep was affected, although they improved their diet [41]. Another study in that the same country reported improvements in physical activity but not in nutrition [42]. Other studies carried out in several countries that support our results suggest negative results that show that the increase in sedentary lifestyles affected the health of this population [43, 44].

Our findings regarding healthy lifestyles are supported by a study conducted in the capital of Peru [45], where a similar perception was observed among the population. Regarding oral hygiene habits, the results indicate that in both groups of students, they were good, which coincides with the findings of Descalzo-Casado et al. [46], who indicated that 94% of the students maintained adequate oral hygiene and cleanliness. Similarly, 46% of students in that sample stated that they did not drink alcohol or smoke, which is also related to what was found in our study. These indicators have probably improved because of the confinement, since not being able to leave the house and living with their parents allowed them to improve their lifestyles. Similarly, other studies carried out in Peru and Mexico [47, 48] indicated significant positive changes in their lifestyles, which would reaffirm what was found in our study, also indicating that the positive change was due in some way to the confinement whose restrictions played in favor of the improvement in the lifestyles of the students.

In relation to eating habits, the study of Coppi et al. [49] indicated that women showed higher intake of food in order to cope, while men preferred higher wine consumption as a coping mechanism. We observed a sharp reduction in physical activity, increased sedentary behaviors, and deterioration in sleep quality. Another study concludes that unhealthy lifestyle is prevalent among university students in whom the pandemic has produced modifications in their behaviors and lifestyles [50–53]. These results differ from those found in our research where more than 70% reported a good lifestyle. However, in 2023, students have decreased their health care, probably because they have returned to the university routine where fast food is everywhere and there is no family control over food.

5. Conclusion

The results of this study reveal a complex interaction between the COVID-19 pandemic and the healthy lifestyles of Peruvian university students. While medical students, thanks to their training, initially showed better eating habits and physical activity levels, the data suggest a decline in these indicators in the M2 group, highlighting the persistent challenges to maintaining healthy lifestyles in the long term, even among those with greater health knowledge. The Mann–Whitney test indicated an overall improvement in healthy lifestyle across groups, mainly attributable to improved nutritional habits during the pandemic. However, no significant changes were observed in physical activity levels or substance use. These findings highlight the need to design comprehensive interventions that not only inform about healthy habits but also address the psychosocial and environmental factors that influence the adoption of these behaviors. Furthermore, they suggest that college students, despite their youth and resilience, require ongoing support to maintain healthy lifestyles, especially in times of crisis such as a pandemic. Future research should delve deeper into the reasons behind these changes, explore the impact of different types of interventions, and assess the sustainability of the changes over the long term. The results of this study provide a solid basis for the design of health promotion programs targeting the Peruvian university population.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Author Contributions

The final manuscript was verified and approved by the authors, and they are responsible for the reported research.

Funding

This research was conducted without any external funding. The researchers thank the Research Institute of the Nacional University of the Center of Peru for financing this study through the EX-FEDU call, Registration Certificate 242023484522.