Physical Activity Status Among Health Science Students of Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity has become a major public health concern in todays’ world. Evidences suggest that nearly one-fifth of the overall risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, colon cancer is due to physical inactivity. The aim of present study is to assess the physical activity status among health science students in Chitwan District of Nepal. Methods: Present study is a cross-sectional study conducted among health science students of Chitwan District identified through non-probability sampling technique. Ethical approval was ob­tained from CMC IRC. Information on physical activity was gathered using the self-reported Global GPAQ – 16 items. A final activity response from each student was summed into MET/minutes per week, which was further classified as: inactive, low active, moderately active and highly active in terms of total MET minute/week. Descriptive and inferential analysis was done through this IBM SPSS software version 20. Results: More than two-third of students reported their status as low active. Nearly 7% were physi­cally inactive. About 93% of the health science students met the minimum WHO recommendation for physical activity (≥600 MET-minutes/week). The difference on physical activity status according to gender and age groups was found statistically significant (p<0.005). Conclusions: There was huge proportion of students with low level of physical activity. There is need for focusing on health information system to aware public regarding the importance of physi­cal activity.

Exploring Physical Activity Awareness Among BMC Education Students, Kathmandu

“…About 93% of the health science students met the minimum WHO recommendation for physical activity (≥600 METminutes/week). The difference in physical activity status according to gender and age groups was found to be statistically significant (p<0.005) (Adhikari K et al, 2021).…”

“…The questionnaire was adapted from locally used study tools and published literatures that accessed university level students' physical activity in Nepal (Sharma S et al, 2023;Adhikari K et al, 2021). The questionnaire contained three sections, 1st on socio-demographic characteristics, 2nd on knowledge related to physical activity, and 3rd on attitudes regarding physical activity of participating students.…”

“…Thus, enhancing university youths' knowledge on physical activities and positively fostering their attitudes towards physical activities become crucial to promote healthy lifestyles in them (Aniodo DA et al, 2014;Thariyan P et al, 2023;Oladejo T et al, 2023). Studies done among university adolescents and youths in Nepal are suggestive of large proportion of them being physical less active and some even possibly ignoring it while others are deprived of practicing them due to various reasons (Adhikari A et al, 2021;Sharma S et al, 2023;Nepal S et al, 2023). Youth Vision 2025 Nepal has also acknowledged this and stressed the need for promoting exercises and sports among students right from the school level (Government of Nepal 2015).…”

Editors’ Desk – Creating a Movement for Healthy Physical Activity at Work

“…Entire communities are failing to benefit from the wider social, environmental and economic benefits associated with more people living active lives. 12…”