Physical Activity Levels In Medical Students And Its Correlation With Measures Of Obesity, Body Mass Index, Fat Mass Index And Skeletal Muscle Mass

: Medical students (MS) are prone to low physical activity (PA) levels due to rigorous time constraints. Sedentary behavior and obesity in MS can adversely affect both overall health and mental wellbeing. Additionally, MS must understand and apply the "Exercise is Medicine" principles to effectively promote healthy lifestyles in the general population. PURPOSE: To assess PA levels among second-year MS and examine correlations with obesity measures, including body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 234 second-year MS (89 males, 145 females; mean age = 20). PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and classified into tertiles: low, moderate, and vigorous. Body composition measurements (weight, BMI, FMI, SMM) were obtained through bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody). Correlations between PA levels and body composition were analyzed using Spearman’s Rho, with statistical significance set at P < 0.001 and a 95% confidence interval. Analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 25. RESULTS: BMI classifications were as follows: 109 (46.6%) normal, 75 (32.1%) overweight, 26 (11.1%) Type 1 obesity, 6 (2.6%) Type 2 obesity, 2 (0.9%) morbidly obese, and 16 (6.8%) underweight. Among students with low PA (n = 69, 29.5%), mean BMI was 24.08 (p = 0.097), FMI 8.51 (p = 0.085), SMM 22.74 (p = 0.060). Moderate PA students (n = 110, 47%) had mean BMI 25.25 (p = 0.103), FMI 9.13 (p = 0.166), SMM 24.86 (p = 0.154). Vigorous PA students (n = 55, 23.5%) had mean BMI 25.38 (p = 0.057), FMI 10.01 (p = 0.331), SMM 28.25 (p = 0.331). CONCLUSION: While no correlations reached statistical significance, trends indicated that higher PA levels were associated with increased SMM but also BMI and FMI. It is important to note that 109 MS (46.6%) are classified as overweight/obese, and 16 (6.8%) are underweight. Future research should include MS from multiple institutions to enhance statistical power and track students longitudinally over their four years of study.