The Influence of Physical Activity on Body Mass Index Values in Adolescents

Abstract

Physical activity as an important factor of proper growth and development today, under the influence of modern technologies, is causing a decline in the interest of young people, which results in an increase in BMI and the development of obesity. The goal. The aim of the work was to examine the influence of physical activity on BMI values in adolescents. Methods. The respondents were students from the first to the third grade of the Bihać secondary medical school, of both sexes. The time of data collection is November 2022. There were a total of 120 respondents. They were divided into two groups, working and control, with 60 students each. The working group consisted of students who did not engage in any physical activity, while the control group consisted of students who engaged in physical activity 1x-3x a week. Results. The mean value of BMI in the working group of students was 29.14 kg/m² compared to the mean value of BMI of the control group, 21.75 kg/m² (p= 0.044). BMI values among students from the first to the third grade of the working group were equal, without statistical significance (p= 2.785). In the control group, the BMI values were also equal, but lower compared to the BMI values of the working group. According to gender, the boys of the working group had a mean BMI of 29.26 kg/m², compared to the boys of the control group, BMI of 21.71 kg/m² (p= 0.000). The same is true for girls, the mean BMI of the working group was 29.08 kg/m², while the BMI of the control group was 21.70 kg/m² (p=0.000). Conclusion. The absence of physical activity has a significant effect on the increase of BMI in adolescents and is a risk factor for obesity. The promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, proper nutrition and physical activity should be key features of the lives of children and adolescents.