Does Lifestyle of Medical Students have a Role in Determining Body Mass Index and Body Fat Percentage?
Introduction: Due to increased awareness, we assume that doctors would have a good health status. But highly stressful education system along with the adoption of urban lifestyle has resulted in poor lifestyle leading to the development of substandard levels of body compositions. Assuming young medi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/12086/36519_150718_36519_CE[Ra1]_F(SL)_PF1(AJ_SHU)_PN(SHU).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Due to increased awareness, we assume that doctors would have a good health status. But highly stressful education system along with the adoption of urban lifestyle has resulted in poor lifestyle leading to the development of substandard levels of body compositions. Assuming young medical students to be leading a good and healthy lifestyle, we decided to investigate whether lifestyle has any influence on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage (BFP). Aim: To find out the prevalent existing lifestyle in medical students and to find out if lifestyle influences the BMI and BFP. Materials and Methods: A cros-sectional study was conducted among 100 first-year medical students in Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Kerala. Validated lifestyle questionnaire and body fat analyser (OMRON–HBF– 375) was used for determining BMI and BFP respectively. Data were analysed using bivariate analysis and Fisher’s-Exact test through cross-tabulation using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Out of 100 students, 28% had good lifestyle and 72% had a poor lifestyle. On analysis, lifestyle influence on BMI and BFP was found to be statistically insignificant but BMI and BFP were found to be positively correlated. Conclusion: Young medical students who were supposed to be healthy were found to have poor lifestyle showing an alarming sign of a decline in the quality of health status. Even though lifestyle was found to be influencing BMI and BFP, there was no significance in the present study which raises a question in our mind about the other contributing factors such as youth, genetic factors and other hidden hormonal factors to be playing a role in the BMI and BFP, which needs to be further, investigated. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |