Exploring evolutionary adaptations for natural activity and their impact on physical health: A nature-based perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11182472Keywords:
Dietary habits, Jazan University, physical activity, social mediaAbstract
In the context of human evolution and adaptation to natural environments, this study delved into the influence of such adaptations on the dietary habits and physical health of university students. Employing a cross-sectional descriptive research design, the study encompassed 382 students meeting the inclusion criteria. Data collection relied on a questionnaire, and subsequent analysis utilized statistical software such as SPSS and Microsoft Excel. Among the plethora of social media platforms, WhatsApp emerged as the most prevalent (98.7%), followed by Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter, with Facebook being the least utilized (93.4%, 92.4%, 86.9%, 84.6%, and 5.3%, respectively). On average, students dedicated 3-4 hours daily to social media usage. Notably, social networking sites were accessed for a similar duration. Findings revealed a significant association between students' perceptions of their dietary habits and their use of social media to share insights about their physical activity preferences (p < 0.05). Intriguingly, no significant correlation surfaced between perceptions of physical activity and overall health (p > 0.05). However, students who employed social media to document their physical activity preferences tended to hold a more positive perception of their dietary habits. Conversely, those who frequently shared their physical activity endeavors on social media were inclined to engage in less physical exercise. This exploration into human evolution and adaptation underscores the complex interplay between modern technology, social behaviors, and the primal instincts ingrained through evolution, shedding light on how these factors shape dietary habits and physical health among contemporary university students.
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