Physical activity and nutritional status among students of University of Banja Luka

Researches conducted in the world show that obesity in the student population is becoming a growing health issue. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity habits and results of anthropometric measurements among students of University of Banja Luka. This cross section study involved 210 students. We measured students' weight and height (for the body mass index- BMI), circumference of the waist and hips (for the waist-to-hip ratio-WHR) and skin fold thickness in order to calculate body fat percentage (BF%). The modified Baecke questionnaire was used to investigate physical activity habits. The questionnaire calibration was performed by factor analysis, and three factors were extracted. Body mass index results showed 22.40% of the total number of students were overweight and 2.40% were obese, while body fat percentage results showed 11.20% males and 15.50% females were overweight. Only 1.90% males and 11.20% females had average waist to hip ratio values. 69.50% students were engaged in sports, while 30.50% students were not. 34.80% of students spent their free time walking, 23.30% working on the computer, the same percentage of students were training, 10.50% were bicycling, and 8,10% watched TV. Multivariate analysis of variance showed a statistically significant correlation (R= .35) between variable body fat percentage with factor Sporting and factor Way of going to college: on foot/by bus. Variable waist-to-hip ratio had a statistically significant correlation with all three extracted factors(R = .36), in addition to the two mentioned above and with factor cycling/physical activity.