Assessment of physical activity and body weight among medical students in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

<p><strong>Aim<br /></strong> To assess obesity and weekly physical activity among medical students at the University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, related to gender and years of study profile. <br /><strong>Methods<br /></strong> This is a prospective, descriptive study conducted among the student population across all six years, comprised of a validated survey instrument Youth Risk Behaviour Survey Questionnaires. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the School of Medicine and carried out as an anonymous survey, during the winter semester of the academic year 2017/2018. <br /><strong>Results<br /></strong> Of the total 601 students, the study included 543 students, 327 (60.2%) females and 216 (39.8%) males. The majority of students 337 (62.1%) had normal weight, and 13 (2.4%) had class 1 obesity. Most female students, 255 (75.7%) had normal weight, while 132 (61.1%) males were overweight. Physical inactivity was found among 349 (64.3%) students; 11 (2%) exercised regularly twice a week and 16 (2.9%) exercised five times a week. <br /><strong>Conclusion<br /></strong> This study should help better understanding and identifying the onset of obesity among the students of the School of Medicine in Banja Luka and promote awareness of the obesity problem among them that would have benefit for health of this population group.</p>

Prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among medical students from the Western Balkans (South-East Europe Region)

“…The study by Pavičić-Žeželj et al [ 23 ], conducted among students of the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka (Croatia), shows that consistent with our results, most of the students have the normal weight, followed by students who are overweight and obese. Similar is stated in a study by Savić et al [ 24 ], which was conducted among medical students in Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), confirming that prevalence in our study corresponds with the prevalence of OWOB among medical students obtained in studies in the region of Western Balkans.…”

Global prevalence of obesity and overweight among medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In a study by Shah T. et al (2014), 34% of medical students consumed fast food because healthy homemade food was just not available [ 40 ]. In another study by Savić S. et al (2020), a major part of medical students did not have any form of physical activity throughout the week (64.3% of the study population) [ 41 ]. It has also been stated in another paper that university students with BMIs in normal ranges tend to participate more regularly in physical activities than underweight or overweight students [ 42 ].…”