Assessment of healthy lifestyle and physical movement levels among female university students: a cross-sectional study

Purpose This study delves into the healthy lifestyles and physical movement levels of female university students in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and the union territory of Ladakh, India. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the healthy lifestyles and physical activity levels of female university students in these union territories. We sought to identify regional trends and differences in health and wellness among young women in these regions. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a snowball sampling technique, gathering online and offline data from participants in urban and rural areas across all universities in these union territories. The survey included responses from 1,377 students aged 20–32 years. We adapted the Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire (HLQ) to suit the cultural and regional contexts, assessing six key domains. Results Our results show that female university students in both union territories typically demonstrate low adherence to healthy lifestyle practices and physical activity levels. However, significant disparities were observed between the two regions. Female students from Ladakh were found to be more physically active, better nourished, less stressed, and had healthier habits than their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir. Conclusions The study highlights the need for tailored programs that promote healthy lifestyles and physical activity specific to each union territory’s needs. Our findings suggest that all six healthy lifestyle components are closely linked and account for 96.9% of the overall healthy lifestyle score variance. Future research should investigate the underlying factors contributing to low engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours and physical activity in these union territories and investigate the factors contributing to regional differences to formulate effective public health strategies.