Association of Body Mass Index with Lifestyle Behaviours among Students of Punjab University

Objective: To determine association of body mass index with life style behaviours among students of Punjab University. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study, done among Punjab University students. Study was started after approval of Institutional Review Board of the Department of Public health and after taking informed consent. Data was collected on a self structured questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated after measurements of weight and height. BMI was taken normal in the range of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, under-weight below 18.5kg/m2 and overweight 25-29.9kg/m2. Then analysis was done using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Most of the respondent (80%) had age group 17-25 years. Majority respondents sleep late night, 93.5% were nonsmoker, 55% had good sleep 6 to 8 hours daily, 50% respondents walk 10 to 20 minutes daily, 90% did not have outdoor games activity, jogging and swimming habit. Majority (60%) respondents had normal BMI, 25% had high and 15% below normal. Demographic variable when associated with BMI age, gender, weight, height, and income were found statistically significant. Similarly, physical activities when associated with BMI then daily sleeping hours, timing of sleeping, daily walk, outdoors games, jogging and use of bike were statistically significant. Conclusion: Lifestyle of University students of young age shows that there is need to create awareness about healthy physical activities and improving their lifestyle behaviours so as to maintain a normal BMI. Descriptive statistics shows that majority of the university students do not have health lifestyle and around 25% had high BMI in spite of young age. There is need of the hour to create awareness about healthy physical activities and improving their lifestyle behaviours so as to maintain a normal BMI.