Copyright © 2014 Nasir.M.Younis. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies, 3 (2) (2014) 69-73 International Journal of Advanced Nursing Studies Journal home page: www.sciencepubco.com/index.php/IJANS doi: 10.14419/ijans.v3i2.2593 Research Paper Assessment of healthy lifestyle habits among Mosul university students Nasir M. Younis College of Nursing, University of Mosul, Iraq E-mail: nasir_younse@yahoo.com Abstract Background: A healthy lifestyle leaves you fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease, based on the choices you make about your daily habits. Good nutrition, daily exercise and adequate sleep are the foundations for continuing good health. Managing stress in posi- tive ways, instead of through smoking or drinking alcohol, reduces wear and tear on your body at the hormonal level. For a longer and more comfortable life, put together your plan for a healthy lifestyle and live up to it. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess of Healthy lifestyle habits among Mosul University Students and to examine relationship between the university student's characteristics and healthy lifestyles habits. Method: Cross-sectional survey design is applied to assess healthy lifestyle habit among Mosul University Students. Random sample consist of (400) students (Male and Female) were students in Mosul University from specialty difference (College of Medicine, College of Dentistry, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Fine Arts, College of Education , College of Basic Education and College of Law),From end stage in University. Period of data collection first December 2013 extended from end February 2014. An in- terview technique method was used for data collection. Data were analyzed through the application of the descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis. Results: The results of the study indicated that Mosul university students have a low score in the total healthy lifestyle habits, demon- strating that female are higher than that of male(56%). Conclusion: The study concluded that the results are accepted concerning healthy lifestyle habit among Mosul University. After com- pleting this survey, the researcher found that a lot of university students had a big problem of their healthy lifestyle habits, especially eating habits such as they skip breakfast, eat snacks and drink tea a lot. Keywords: Health, Lifestyle, Students, University. 1. Introduction A healthy lifestyle leaves you fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease, based on the choices you make about your daily habits. Good nutrition, daily exercise and adequate sleep are the founda- tions for continuing good health. Managing stress in positive ways, instead of through smoking or drinking alcohol, reduces wear and tear on your body at the hormonal level. For a longer and more comfortable life, put together your plan for a healthy life- style and live up to it.(Nancy Clarke,2013). The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that 60% of an individual’s health-related quality of life depends on his/her lifestyle (Ziglio et.al, 2004). Numerous publications (Othlings et.al, 2010)( Reddy, et.al, 2011) have shown that healthy lifestyle practices reduce disease occurrence and mortality rates and socio demographic dimensions such as sex, age, marital status, economical level and paid employment correlate with healthy lifestyle. University stu- dents represent the future decision makers in organizations, com- munities, and countries. University years are a period where stu- dents increasingly make independent choices about their lifestyle and health practices.(Lee et.al, 2005) However, the university period also encompasses stresses for students trying to achieve success in their academic goals despite the financial constraints that many report. Such stressors, in combination with experiences of ‘freedom’ from parental restrictions, might support the devel- opment of risky lifestyles e.g., high consumption of alcohol and drugs, and a low concern for healthy nutrition and restful sleep (El Ansari and Stock, 2010).Drug consumption, especially tobacco and alcohol, unsuitable diet and insufficient physical activity (PA) determine an important part of the deaths and illnesses that occur in the European region of the World Health Organization. These lifestyles are largely modifiable through political action, and it is interesting for public health to know their evolution and trends in different communities and population groups (WHO, 2009).Among these groups, the health habits of university stu- dents are a special concern, since they represent a major segment of the young population and they are at a stage of their lives dur- ing which important lifestyle modifications take place (Madureira et al ,2009). If these changes become fixed routines, they are like- ly to determine the person’s future health (Steptoe et al, 2002)(Von et al, 2005). This kind of research becomes especially necessary at university, since students make up a homogenous and accessible population, who also can generally be considered to be in relatively good health. The need to analyze health behavior from a gender perspective has been pointed out by some authors (Kelly-Weeder,2008) The gender differences among university students in health are a consequence of different structural con- texts for genders (age, social support, and family arrangement), lifestyle (smoking, drinking, exercise, diet) and psychosocial fac-