Poor eating habits and substance abuse are major public health concerns among young adults transitioning into university life. This study’s objective was to assess Romanian students’ alcohol consumption and correlate it with other lifestyle factors. We performed a cross-sectional study of 1212 students with a mean age of 21.1 ± 2.4 years. We applied a valid online questionnaire to evaluate and statistically analyze the interrelation between alcohol consumption and lifestyle factors by multivariate statistical analysis. The prevalence of alcohol consumption among the student population enrolled in the study was 79.9%. Multiple regression showed that alcohol consumption was positively associated with gender (p < 0.001), level of physical activity (p = 0.009), number of cigarettes (p < 0.001), and fast-food consumption (p < 0.001), and negatively associated with sleep (p = 0.012) and study hours (p < 0.001). The study revealed a high prevalence (18%) of binge drinking among males. The frequent use of illicit drugs is associated with alcohol consumption (p < 0.001) but present at low levels (1.6%). The study evidenced a high prevalence of alcohol consumption in students, especially in males, and poor food behavior related to the intake of vegetables and fruits. Health promotion campaigns regarding the harmful effects of alcohol, smoking, poor nutrition, and ongoing illicit drug prevention campaigns are needed to improve students’ performances.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to assess the health status and factors influencing healthy choices among children and young people in Romania, as well as the efficacy of related health education programs. Through understanding these dynamics, the study seeks to provide insights that can shape targeted interventions, policies, and educational strategies to improve this demographic’s overall health and well-being. Materials and Methods: For this study, we performed a literature review of original published papers on the health status, healthy habits, health education, predisposition to making healthy choices in the future, and accessibility to the paediatric health system of Romanian children and young people, as well as the effects of different types of educational interventions on this demographic in Romania. Results: The prevalence of dental caries is high in Romania. In terms of eating habits and nutritional status, a worrying proportion of children are overweight or obese, which can lead to a variety of future physical and psychological problems. In terms of physical activity, few adolescents demonstrate regular fitness practices. Romania presents an increase in alcohol and tobacco consumption among adolescents. The mental health of students has become a pressing public health concern, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of social networks is linked to mental health issues among young people. Romania still has one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and faces a high incidence of cervical cancer, with a mortality rate three times higher than the EU average. High rates of teenage pregnancies are linked to limited information about sexuality and a lack of access to family planning at a young age. There are large discrepancies in the accessibility of medical services between urban and rural areas. Conclusions: Romania faces significant obstacles to providing high-quality healthcare to children and young people. Improving nutrition, immunisation rates, and access to medical services represent essential areas for enhancing the health of children and young people in Romania.

The study aimed to evaluate lifestyle factors among Information Technology (IT) workers from Romania before and during the pandemic. We used an online applied questionnaire, filled in by 1638 respondents, that assessed nutrition status-Body Mass Index (BMI), weight and diet change, physical activity, alcohol consumption, number of hours working in front of the computer, stress, and sleep. Multivariate logistic regression was used to establish the lifestyle factors that lead to weight gain. Although the level of physical activity (PA) was low before the pandemic, the results of our study showed a further decrease in physical activity. In total, 61.1% of men and 71.1% of women performed PA for less than 30 min per day. Weight gain was reported in 50.5% of men and 45.3% of women (mean weight gain was 5.11 ± 3.52 kg) as a result of increased screen time (with a mean of 3.52 ± 4.29 for females and 3.05 ± 2.09 for males, p > 0.05 h per day) and the reported changes in diet. Despite the popularity of home-cooked foods, the intake of vegetables and fruit remained low. The quality of sleep was poor for 55.7% of the respondents. Public health and corporation policies are required to encourage a healthy lifestyle and avoid chronic diseases.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle and the behavioral factors that influence the nutritional status of adolescents from Transylvania, Romania. Methods: The Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) was used to collect data from 900 adolescents between 11 and 18 years old from the Transylvania region, Romania. This study assessed nutritional status by calculating BMI indicators adjusted to Z-Score, cut-off points according to the World Health Organization (WHO), using self-reported weight and height; perceived health status; food vulnerability; physical activity; addictive behaviors (cigarette, alcohol and drug consumption); number of hours spent in front of the computer/phone; hand and oral hygiene; sitting time/day; and sleep. Multivariate logistic regression was used to establish the lifestyle factors that influenced nutritional status. Results: The results showed that 8.7% (n = 78) of girls and 15.2% (n = 137) boys were overweight and obese. In total, 75% of the respondents were engaged in sedentary behaviors, and 65.8% (n = 592) had more than 2 h/day of screen exposure, considering that 98.7% of the study population had a mobile phone. The Romanian adolescents had poor dietary behaviors: over 80% of them did not meet the recommended amount of vegetable and fruit intake per day. Increased BMI was associated with higher-strength physical exercise and with being a boy. Conclusions: While some positive trends are evident, such as good oral and hand hygiene and low prevalence of smoking and drug use, significant challenges remain in areas like nutrition, physical activity, alcohol consumption and screen time.

Background and Objectives: Romania has the highest rate of cervical cancer in Europe. The aim of this study is to measure the level of sexual health knowledge among participants and determine the extent to which factors such as age, gender, education level, access to sexual health resources, and cultural background influence their knowledge. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1089 Romanian youth participants aged 18–35 years. A self-administered online questionnaire was used concerning the level of knowledge relating to STIs, contraception methods, and preventive attitudes during the 2023–2024 academic year. Results: Most of the participants (93,8%) scored a “good-to-excellent” STI level of knowledge. Despite this, 71.9% of the responders had never taken an HIV test, and 63.5% had never been tested for other STIs. Logistic regression analysis revealed a direct association between higher STI knowledge levels among respondents with age (p < 0.001), underage sexual debuts (p = 0.018), greater parental education (p = 0.016), and those who studied health sciences (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the critical need for health communication campaigns to enhance STI knowledge and vaccine literacy to improve the vaccination rates among young people in Romania. The identified knowledge gaps, frequent misconceptions, and barriers to STI testing underscore the importance of comprehensive sexual health education, public health initiatives for reducing the stigma associated with STIs, and improved access to healthcare services for young people.

Background and Objectives: Sleep is a vital psychological function for health and well-being in all age groups, from children to adolescents, to adults and the elderly, and impacts quality of life. This study evaluated temporal changes in sleep quality and lifestyle behaviors among medical students in North-Western Romania (Transylvania) between the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic period. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed involving 709 medical students assessed during the first pandemic wave (2020) and the 2023–2024 academic year. Online questionnaires collected data on demographics, body mass index (BMI), substance use, and physical activity. Sleep quality was measured using the validated Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and multiple linear regression was performed to identify predictors of sleep outcomes. Results: Post-pandemic data revealed a significant decline in sleep quality, with female gender and lower academic performance identified as significant predictors of insomnia symptoms (R² of 0.258, p < 0.05). While physical activity levels improved significantly in 2024 compared to the confinement period, this was accompanied by increased fast-food consumption and a rise in overweight and obesity rates. Conversely, illicit drug use decreased, and alcohol consumption patterns shifted, characterized by reduced weekly frequency among females but persistent binge drinking episodes. Conclusions: The transition to post-pandemic education yielded mixed health outcomes; while physical activity rebounded, sleep quality and nutritional status deteriorated. These findings highlight the necessity for university-based interventions focusing on sleep hygiene, nutrition, and stress management to support the well-being of medical students.