Cognizance of Physically Oriented Active Lifestyle among Medical Students of Lahore

Background: Cognizance of Physical activity is crucial for medical students, offering benefits in overall well-being and mental function. Medical students are often burdened with a heavy workload and long hours of studying, leading to a sedentary lifestyle and neglect of physical activity. Globally, insufficient physical activity contributes to significant health issues, including non-communicable diseases, with a prevalence of 27.5% worldwide and a notable impact in countries like Pakistan. This study explores medical students’ awareness and aims to cultivate a culture of well-being among future healthcare professionals. Objective: To investigate the awareness of a physically oriented active lifestyle among medical students. Methods: A six-month descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Lahore Medical and Dental College, involving 350 medical students aged 18-28, utilized a self-structured questionnaire to assess aware ness of physically oriented active lifestyle, how often and how long they engage in physical activity, participation in organized sports, motivation level and challenges related to maintaining a regular exercise routine, ensuring ethical approval, informed consent. The study prioritized confidentiality, participant well-being, and transparent reporting of methods and findings. Results: The study revealed a gender distribution of 68.3% females and 31.7% males, with a mean age of 21.82 years. The study also found that only 20.9% of the participants reported regular physical activity, while the majority (79.1%) fell into the category of physically inactive individuals. Conclusion: A significant proportion of the population tends to lead a sedentary lifestyle, prioritizing a lack of physical activity over an active one, despite being aware of the associated benefits and drawbacks of such choices.