PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO THE RISK FACTORS FOR THE METABOLIC SYNDROME IN A GROUP OF MEDICAL STUDENTS
Abstract:
Introduction: Physical inactivity has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Aim: our study aimed at exploring the level of physical activity in a group of medical students, in relation to the risk factors for the metabolic syndrome. Methods: we performed a cross-sectional survey on a sample of 235 medical students. Due to the low prevalence of some risk factors, we restrained our analysis to gender and waist circumference (WC). Results: significant difference in energy expenditure and time dedicated to physical activity was found between girls and boys (in favour of boys). Globally, 16% of boys and 28% of girls had lower level of both moderate and vigorous physical activity compared to WHO recommendation. Subjects with increased waist circumference were not engaged in more recreational or vigorous activities compared to those with normal WC. No correlation between WC and physical activity variables was found in boys. In girls, significant, weak, direct correlation was found between waist circumference and energy expenditure for all physical activity and also time for moderate physical activity, but not for recreational or vigorous activities. Conclusion: Our results underline two public health problems. First, it is related to an insufficient level of physical activity in the young medical students, especially in girls, and especially for recreational and vigorous activities. The second problem is related to the passivity of the subjects with increased WC, which do not seem to be engaged in corrective programmes of physical activity. These problems could be higher in the general population of young adults, because our group had a high level of information on healthy lifestyle, being medical students.
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