Incidence of health problems in relation with BMI andphysical activity of college students

Abstract

Steady decline in habitual physical activity in children and youth has resulted in anincrease in body weight with age and a decline in functional ability. Hypokinesia in conjunction withpoor diet and stress levels are prerequisites of lifestyle diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular andmetabolic diseases and obesity. In this partial research, being part of the VEGA research No. 1/1343/12"Selected risk factors of obesity and exercise prevention", we looked at the incidence of health problemsrelated to BMI and physical activity in college students. We calculated BMI based on anthropometricmeasurements of body height and weight. Using the questionnaire method, we collected data concerningsubjectively assessed incidence of health problems and overall representation of physical activity (PA) inthe lifestyle of respondents. The study group comprised 1,963 students, including 1,169 female and 794male undergraduates from two Slovak universities. Health problems with the largest incidence wereback pain, alergy, low blood pressure, headache, palpitation and respiratory diseases. Our researchconfirms that a greater representation of PA in students' lives positively relates to a lower BMI. Theresults of logistic regression confirm a significant relation between BMI and the following healthproblems: back pain, palpitation, high blood pressure, obesity, low blood pressure and respiratoryillnesses. PA significantly corresponds with the occurence of health problems related to upperrespiratory tract and high blood pressure.

Keywords

• adolescents
• anthropometry
• physical activity
• hypokinesia
• civilization diseases
• underweight
• overweight
• obesity