Self-evaluation of lifestyle and assessment of health condition by clinical measurements – A call to the rural population

Abstract

Background: Although many people know that a healthy lifestyle prevents chronic diseases and improves the quality of life, the best way to invite people from rural areas to take part in health check-ups is still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the lifestyle and health condition of people from the Carinthia regions in Slovenia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 participants. Data were collected by questionnaire and clinical measurements and were analysed by descriptive statistical methods.

Results: Most of the participants were ≥ 60 years old (62%) and 61% were women, 75% had a high BMI and 64% had elevated blood pressure. The older participants ate breakfast more often than younger participants (p = .010). There was a statistically significant connection between the number of daily hot meals and BMI (p = .026) and blood pressure (p = .049). Half of the participants (51%) drank a litre of water per day as recommended. Hiking was the most popular form of physical activity.

Conclusions: The study findings recommended using a new way to call people in health check-ups in rural areas and provided information about the kind of lifestyle counselling rural people may need.