Profile of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle in health sciences students: Prevalence and its association with academic performance

Physical activity is an essential factor influencing physical, mental, and social well-being. Despite growing awareness of their benefits, a significant portion of the Saudi population, including health sciences students, remains physically inactive. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to assess the physical activity impact on academic achievement in health sciences students. The Short Form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF) was utilized to evaluate physical activity, assessing the intensity, duration, and frequency of exercise. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between physical activity and academic metrics. A total of 401 students participated, most of them were male (56.4%) and aged 18 to 23 years (87.3%). The majority of them were unemployed (90.3%) and indicated good health (77.1%). The average body mass index (BMI) was 23.4 kg/m2 ± 4.6. Around 47% of participants had low physical activity, while 27% had moderate activity and 26% had high activity levels. The participants achieved a total physical activity level of 1273 ± 1552 Metabolic Equivalent (MET)-min/wk through walking activities that generated 486 ± 632 MET-min/wk, moderate activities that produced 234 ± 375 MET-min/wk, and vigorous activities that produced 553 ± 969 MET-min/wk. The World Health Organization's recommended activity levels were not met by 19% of the participants. A statistically significant positive correlation exists between student grade point average (GPA) and physical activity level (r = 0.279, P < .001). Additionally, negative correlations were found between physical activity and absenteeism (r = -0.10, P = .03), academic warnings (r = -0.11, P = .02), and BMI (r = -0.11, P = .02). Students' GPA was a significant positive predictor of total physical activity, with each one-point increase in GPA linked with an extra 629 MET-min/wk (P < .001, 95% CI [430-827]). Male and healthy students were associated with higher physical activity levels. Health sciences university students with higher physical activity were associated with higher GPA, while maintaining lower BMI, and exhibited fewer absences and academic warnings. Physical activity promotion in academic settings may create dual benefits for student learning and health outcomes. Future longitudinal and multi-institutional studies are required to form causal relationships and broader applicability.