Association of Physical Activity and Body Mass Index among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal Title: Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences - Year 2015, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Obesity is fast approaching cigarette smoking as the major preventable cause of mortality. The relationship between activity levels and body mass index is unclear, despite large number of studies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between physical activity and body mass index among university students. We chose a cross-sectional study design. The sample comprised 372university students, 140 males and 232 females. The mean age for total population was 20.7±1.3 years. Body mass index was calculated from the data retrieved from self-reported questionnaire. Subject's participation in physical activity was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form (IPAQ). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Categorical variables were described by frequency analysis. The chi-square test of significance was used to assess the association between physical activity and body mass index. Comparisons were considered to be statistically significant at P ≤0.05. Out of 372 subjects, 255 (68.5%) of total study population had BMI in the normal weight category, 68 (18.3%) of total population were underweight and 49 (13.2%) were overweight or obese. High level of physical activity among the study population was 62 (16.7%) while 148 (39.8%) and 162 (43.5%) of them had a moderate and low level of physical activity respectively. No significant correlation was found between BMI and PA (p=0.153). There was a statistically significant association between gender and body mass index among university students (p=0.001). The results obtained in this study reinforce the controversy of the relation between PA and BMI among university students. Our findings suggested that the higher physical activity level could be found even among overweight and obese categories. However, the results indicate that those belonging to the moderate and high PA group are more likely to belong to normal BMI category. Keywords: obesity, young adults, physical activity, underweight
Authors and Affiliations
Nizar Abdul Majeed Kutty, Tin Yen Ru, Vincent Hwang Qi Chiang, Wee Ying Zhi
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP380398
- DOI -
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
A Philosophical Reflection on the Relevance of Death in the Medical and Technological Frame
My argument in this article is that death as a basic human fact is a condition for life’s meaningfulness, but this very fact is today managed by medical technologies, particularly the technologies used to prolong or end...
Problem-based Learning (PBL) Method Design for Graduate: A New Exploration in Medical English Writing Teaching in China
Teaching medical English writing for medical graduate in China exposes medical educators to special teaching methods and learning styles. The traditional approach to English writing couldn’t meet the needs of medical gra...
Themes and structures of Kilba Proverbs
Abstract: This paper examines the themes and structures of Kilba proverbs. There is no doubt that the selection and application of rhetorical devices to achieve the purpose of communication is determined by speech themes...
New Features of Sprint Technological Development and Stagnant Causes and Countermeasures of Men’s 100-meter Sprint in China
With regards to lower indemnity state of 100-meter sprint in China in recent years, through literature, expert interviews, analysis, comparison and other methods, the author analyzed the new characteristics of contempora...
Art in City Public Space – Chosen Aspects. Case Study Of Poznan in Poland
Abstract:In the following paper there are presented the outline of research conducted at the Faculty of Architecture of the Poznań University of Technology. The research work concerns the questions of high quality public...