78. Body composition and physical activity of third- and fourth-year medical students at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2024

Nguyen Xuan Tra, Nghiem Nguyet Thu, Nguyen Quang Dung

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Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the body composition and physical activity of medical students. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 110 third- and fourth-year students at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Data were collected using anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) with the InBody 270 device. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was employed to assess physical activity. The results showed that 16.4% of students were overweight based on body mass index (BMI), while 9.1% were underweight. Female students had a significantly higher mean percentage of body fat (PBF) compared with males (28.1% vs. 20.3%; p < 0.001), with 55.7% exceeding the recommended threshold. A total of 2.7% of students had a visceral fat level (VFL) above the cutoff despite having a normal BMI. The proportion of students with high physical activity (≥ 3000 MET-minutes/week) was higher among males than females (16.3% vs. 1.6%). Many students presented elevated PBF and VFL despite normal BMI. Overall, physical activity levels among both male and female students remained limited, underscoring the need for targeted nutrition and exercise education interventions in this population.

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References

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