Physical activity and sedentary time among medical residents during night-float rotations in Puerto Rico

Medical residency is a demanding phase of medical training, with night-float rotations posing unique challenges to resident’s health and wellbeing. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to describe physical activity patterns, sedentary time, and body mass index (BMI) among medical residents during night-float rotations. Sixteen residents (8 males, 8 females) wore a wrist-mounted accelerometer for seven consecutive days during their night-float rotation. Anthropometric measurements were collected to calculate BMI. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Pearson correlations were used for data analysis. This small, single site sample demonstrated high levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, averaging 111.6 min/day (743.9 min/week). Sedentary time averaged 8.6 h/day, with no significant sex-based differences. The average BMI was 26.8 kg/m 2 , with males more frequently classified as overweight or obese compared to females. No associations were observed between BMI, physical activity and sedentary time. Activity patterns varied across the week, with higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time on Thursdays and higher light physical activity coupled with lower sedentary time on Fridays. These observational findings highlight the coexistence of high physical activity and prolonged sedentary behavior, emphasizing the need for wellness strategies that address both dimensions in medical residents.