EVALUATION OF BODY FAT COMPOSITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS HAVING POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinal disorder among young girls and women. It refers to the irregularity of the menstrual cycle associated with excessive facial and bodily hair, rapid weight gain, and skin breakouts. Investigating the relationships between body fat composition, physical activity (PA), and hand grip strength (HGS) in PCOS may help determine the impact on the overall well-being of individuals. Therefore, the objective is to evaluate body fat composition, PA levels, and HGS among university students with PCOS. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 120 female university students (60= PCOS and 60= non-PCOS), aged 18 to 30 years. A skinfold caliper, dynamometer, and International physical activity questionnaire were used to measure the body fat composition, handgrip strength, and physical activity of the participants respectively. The independent t-test was used to find the mean difference and Chi-Square analysis was computed to determine the association between the variables. Results: Among 120 participants, about 49 (40.8%) had a high body fat percentage, and 47 (39.2%) were HEPA active. The mean hand grip strength of the right hand was 8.43±5.15 kg. A statistically significant difference in body fat composition (p=0.000), and handgrip strength (p=0.000) was observed in both groups, whereas the mean of HGS was low in the case group. And no significant difference was seen in physical activity (p=0.646). Conclusion: The findings suggest that PCOS is associated with high body fat composition, and weaker hand grip strength compared to healthy participants. While physical activity level is not found to be associated with it. Keywords: Body fat composition, hand grip strength, physical activity, polycystic ovary syndrome, university students.