Health Risky Behaviors Among University Students: Prevalence And Effect Of Health Education Program.

Background: University students are at high risk of health-risky behaviors that could lead to serious physical complications, social dysfunction, and psychological disturbances which require different treatment approaches. Also they face social, emotional and educational challenges when entering the University. Well organized health education programs can change such behaviors by increasing knowledge and influencing attitude and behavior. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to rate the most frequent health risky behaviors among university students and to evaluate the effect of health education program on the level of changing the health risky behaviors among university students.   .Methods: An interventional study was used; the study was conducted on a sample of 853 randomly selected students at Zagazig University, during the 2nd term of the academic year 2014 -2015. A structured questionnaire to assess types and prevalence of health risky behaviors before and after intervention was used. Additionally anthropometric measurements were calculated. Results: unhealthy dieting behavior took the lowest satisfactory score (10%), followed by unhealthy nutritional behavior (17%) and smoking behavior (33.3%).The implementation of the educational program was effective in improving unhealthy behavior especially dieting behavior. Conclusion: health risk behaviors are common among college students, and raising awareness by regular health education programs can dramatically change the profile of these behaviors.