Physical activity and its relation with body composition among undergraduate medical students in Delhi: a cross sectional study

Authors

  • Geeta Yadav Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India
  • Suman Bodat Department of Community Medicine, GMC Pali, Rajasthan, India
  • Ishaan Siwach Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India
  • Karan Sachdeva Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India
  • Nitesh Chuahan Department of Community Medicine, K.D Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20204757

Keywords:

Body fat%, IPAQ, Medical students, Physical activity, Waist hip ratio

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity and overweight are leading risk factors for global mortality, responsible for 6% and 5% of deaths worldwide due to chronic non communicable diseases. It is well established that regular moderate or vigorous-intensity exercise lowers the risks and symptoms associated with the co-morbidities of obesity. The stress involved in meeting responsibilities of becoming a physician may adversely affect the exercise habits of students. So, the current study aimed to study physical activity and its relation with body composition among under-graduate medical students.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study among 282 medical students. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short form was used to measure total physical activity (PA) and body composition parameters including Waist circumference, WHR, BMI, Body Fat% were assessed and analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results: Out of 282 medical students 33%, 45.3%, &21.3% were involved in low, moderate and high physical activity. ANOVAs between different levels of physical activities according to IPAQ categories showed significant difference for Waist Hip Ratio (F:3.8; p=0.02) and Body Fat percentage (F=5.7; p=0.00). There was an inverse and statistically significant correlation between physical activity and Waist circumference, Body Fat% and Waist –Hip Ratio.

Conclusions: Medical Students involved in higher level of physical activity have significantly lower body Fat% level and WHR as compared to those belonging to lower and moderate activity group thus there is a need to actively promote physical activity among medical students.

Author Biographies

Geeta Yadav, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India

Professor,Communuty Medicine

Suman Bodat, Department of Community Medicine, GMC Pali, Rajasthan, India

Assistant Professor,Community Medicine

 

Ishaan Siwach, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India

intern

Karan Sachdeva, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH, New Delhi, India

intern

Nitesh Chuahan, Department of Community Medicine, K.D Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh India

Assistant Professor, Community Medicine

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Published

2020-10-26

How to Cite

Yadav, G., Bodat, S., Siwach, I., Sachdeva, K., & Chuahan, N. (2020). Physical activity and its relation with body composition among undergraduate medical students in Delhi: a cross sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(11), 4530–4535. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20204757

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Original Research Articles