Insufficient Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors among Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in Pakistan

From plate to profile: investigating the influence of dietary habits and inactive lifestyle on lipid profile in medical students at clerkship

BACKGROUND

Dietary habits have a strong association with body lipid levels and hyperlipidemia increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Dietary habits have been a major concern among medical students due to busy schedules and demanding tasks. This study was designed to know the dietary habits and lifestyle of medical students and its association with their lipid profile.

METHODS

We recruited 120 medical students at clerkship of the age of 18 and above. Weekly dietary habits were evaluated by an 18-item questionnaire. Five ml blood was drawn from the students and lipid profiles were measured at Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory (DDRRL). Data was analyzed by SPSS V.22.

RESULTS

We found 70% of students were not involved in any physical activity throughout the week. Only 15.83% were following a regular diet plan. 65% of students were eating junk food for more than 3 days a week in their weekly diet. Moreover, 19.2%, 39.2%, 32.5%, and 25.84% of students were having their total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL levels above the optimum ranges respectively which were frequently found in students of final year (p < 0.05). There was high total cholesterol and LDL in males as compared to females (p value < 0.05). Total cholesterol and LDL were associated with skipped meal, use of junk food and carbonated drinks for more than 3 days a week (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There was a notable number of students with poor dietary habits, inactive lifestyle and lipid levels above the optimum ranges defined by American Heart Association (AHA) that have an association with dietary habits. This is alarming and can impact the health of future healthcare workers. There is a need to investigate the factors and remedies to help medical students to follow a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.

The influence of home isolation during COVID-19 on the physical fitness development of college students: a study utilizing repeated measures analysis of variance

BACKGROUND

Research on the impact of COVID-19-induced home isolation on the physical fitness of college students is limited. This study aims to compare and analyze the physical fitness test scores of college students in two groups: those who experienced home isolation and those who did not, over three consecutive years after enrolment, to investigate the effects of home isolation on the physical fitness development of Chinese college students.

METHODS

This comparative study included two longitudinal surveys conducted among medical college students. The participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The physical fitness indicators measured included body mass index (BMI), vital capacity (VC), 50-metre run, sit-and-reach, standing long jump, 1000/800-metre runs (males/females), pull-ups (males) and sit-ups (females). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed, and the Greenhouse-Geisser correction was applied when Mauchly's assumption of sphericity was violated. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using the Bonferroni method.

RESULTS

A total of 6580 students participated in the study, with 3360 students (1490 males, 1870 females) enrolled in 2019 as the experimental group and 3220 students (1326 males, 1894 females) enrolled in 2017 as the control group. All participants completed the physical fitness tests for three consecutive years. The results showed that the experimental group exhibited decreased performance in the 1000-metre and 800-metre runs, and improved performance in the sit-and-reach test. After the end of home isolation, there was an improvement in the performance of the 1000-metre run and 800-metre run, while no significant differences were observed in the trends of the other tested indicators.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study indicate that the home isolation environment during COVID-19 had a significant impact on the physical fitness of college students, specifically in terms of endurance and flexibility qualities, as well as male BMI. To better prepare for future public health emergencies and mitigate the effects of isolation, teaching students endurance exercises that can be performed at home should be prioritized. Furthermore, physical education programs should be improved to enhance student flexibility.

Establishment of health related physical fitness evaluation system for school adolescents aged 12-16 in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Background

The decline in adolescent physical fitness is a significant global public health concern, and Pakistan is no exception. The country's absence of a health-related physical fitness (HRPF) evaluation system has compounded this issue. To bridge this gap, this study aims to develop a scientifically-based HRPF evaluation system for the adolescent population that meets international standards. The evaluation system identifies at-risk children and improves adolescent health outcomes, including obesity, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, chronic diseases, and psychological illnesses, through crucial physical fitness evaluation. This study specifically aims to establish an HRPF evaluation system for school adolescents aged 12-16 in Pakistan.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,970 school adolescents aged 12-16 years in the South Punjab, Pakistan. The study used a stratified sampling technique to select participants. The HRPF evaluation system included four components: cardiorespiratory endurance, core muscular endurance, muscular strength, and body composition. Data were collected through standardized tests and anthropometric measurements.

Results

The study's results indicated that the HRPF evaluation scoring system was feasible and valid for evaluating the HRPF of school adolescents in the South Punjab region of Pakistan. The results of the evaluation system categorized participants into five groups based on their performance: excellent (6.2%), good (24.9%), medium (50.7%), poor (17%), and very poor (1.2%).

Conclusion

The study establishes an HRPF evaluation system for Pakistani school adolescents. This system lays the foundation for implementing effective strategies to improve their physical health. The findings offer valuable insights to policymakers, health professionals, and educators, enabling them to promote fitness and devise impactful interventions for enhancing HRPF in this population.

Physical Exercise Pattern for Undergraduate Students and Its Importance in the Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Future Patient Orientation

Background

This study evaluated physical activity (PA), physical exercise (PE), quality of life (QoL), PE barriers and benefits, contents learned about PA, and related factors of PE practice among undergraduate medical and nursing students.

Methods

This cross-sectional study conducted an online survey. We collected sociodemographic data and previous knowledge regarding PA/PE. We applied the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Well-being and Quality of Life Index (WHO-5), and scale of benefits and barriers for PE. We performed bivariate, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

Participants who exercised were identified as "active" and "very active" by the IPAQ, had better health self-perception, higher general total metabolic equivalent, and higher WHO-5 scores, perceived more PE benefits than barriers, and desired more information about PA/PE.

Conclusion

Undergraduate students should be encouraged to participate in PE. Adequate knowledge could be a resource they value and disseminate to their future patients.

Unprecedented times and uncertain connections: A systematic review examining sleep problems and screentime during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

Sleep has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Furthermore, screen time has been reported to influence sleep and has increased during pandemic quarantines. This systematic review searched databases to determine if screen time affected sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

PubMed, Nursing and Allied Health Proquest, and Science Direct Health and Lifescience college edition were searched for articles that fit the inclusion criteria. There were 2750 articles initially screened. Then, 119 articles were further assessed to determine eligibility, creating a final sample of 18 articles that explored whether screen time affected sleep.

Results

After reviewing the included articles (n = 18), the main theme revealed that screen time negatively affected sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically aspects such as sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep onset latency, and wake time. However, several articles countered this implication. Therefore, it is important to consider other factors that may influence the relationship between screen time and sleep.

Conclusions

Although the number of articles included is limited, the overall synthesis suggests that COVID-19-related lifestyle changes, such as increased screen time, may negatively affect sleep health. However, other unidentified factors may have contributed to these findings and warrant further research. Nonetheless, community leaders must consider the long-term consequences of the pandemic and implement initiatives to address sleep challenges due to the intricate connection between sleep and well-being.

Exploring changes in levels and patterns of physical activity in undergraduate medical and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study reports the physical activity (PA) levels among medical and nursing students at a university in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through self-selection sampling of an online survey, participants' data on general demographics, PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and reasons for PA changes were collected. From the 110 valid responses, 70 participants (63%) experienced a decrease in PA during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and lack of motivation were two significant reasons for reduced PA levels (p < 0.001) compared to those who did not experience a decrease in PA. Other factors significantly associated with reduced PA levels include living alone (p < 0.018) or with roommates (p < 0.006) compared to living with family. Having more time available was associated with positive changes to PA levels (p < 0.001). Significant differences in MET-min/week were seen between students who experienced increased PA (median of 1605 MET-min/week) compared to those who experienced a decrease (424 MET-min/week) or no change (1070 MET-min/week) in PA levels (p < 0.001). In conclusion, low PA levels are prevalent within medical and nursing students in Bahrain (51% reported < 600 MET-min/week), with ~2 in 3 students reporting a decrease in PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support programs and strategies to increase engagement in PA within this population are warranted.

Prevalence of physical activity using validated tools among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Many interventions have been taken around the world to limit the spread of COVID-19. These interventions have affected people's lifestyles such as physical activity. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence of physical activity using validated tools among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean region. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were conducted in October 2021. We searched three electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed) for English-language original articles of observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies) with original data reporting the prevalence of physical activity among adults in 22 countries from EMR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoy's risk of Bias tool was applied to assess the biases in individual studies. The result was reported as a percentage for prevalence. A meta-analysis was conducted using the random-effect model with a 95% confidence interval. A total of 363 articles were retrieved. Finally, 15 articles were selected and included in the statistical analysis. The selected studies included 16,585 participants. The result of the meta-analysis showed that the overall physical activity was 51.6% (95% confidence interval: 42.1, 61: p = 0.745). The result of subgroup analysis based on different tools was 60.2%, 39.5%, 36.3%, 39.4%, and 55.2% for Global Physical Activity Questionnaire , The Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-BREF, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form, respectively. Our study highlights the urgent need for large-scale measurement and reporting of physical activity and the use of standard tools that can allow for the regular assessment and screening of the PA prevalence to support evidence-informed policy and programs development at both national and regional levels.

Impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity and Lifestyles in Post-Confinement Sports Science Undergraduates

The aim of this study was to assess whether the infection by SARS-CoV-2 has significantly influenced physical activity, diet, alcohol, and drug consumption habits, as well as the quality of life of students of the bachelor's degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted, which included socio-demographic questions related to the COVID-19 disease. Physical activity was analyzed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the PREDIMED questionnaire, alcohol consumption using the AUDIT questionnaire, and drug consumption using the DAST-10 questionnaire. Health-related quality of life was analyzed with the SF-12 questionnaire. Our results reveal that those who engaged in either vigorous physical activity or, on the contrary, very low-intensity physical activity, were affected by the SARS-CoV-2 disease, which reduced the average weekly time they spent on their type of activity. However, those who previously performed moderate activities have managed to stay on the same fitness level despite having suffered from SARS-CoV-2 disease (p = 0.433). In conclusion, general health is affected by suffering from the COVID-19 disease, inadequate eating habits, substance use, and the performance of vigorous or very low-intensity of physical activity.

Relationship Between Physical Inactivity and Obesity in the Urban Slums of Lahore

Introduction

There are several factors such as physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, and diet that can be responsible for weight gain or obesity. Regular physical activity is important for better physical and emotional well-being. The objective of the study is to observe the prevalence of obesity or over-weight and how lack of physical activity contributes to weight gain and other health issues.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shalamar Town, Lahore on 646 participants. Data was collected using the WHO STEPS instrument. The inclusion criteria were a minimum age of 30 years and residents of Shalimar Town, Lahore for more than five years. The exclusion criteria were participants with comorbid conditions like HIV, TB, and terminal stage of cancer. Test of association and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to observe a significant association between demographic variables and non-communicable diseases among the participants involved in performing physical exercise.

Results

About 22.1% of the participants had normal BMI, 5.3% were underweight whereas 34.2% of the participants were overweight and 32.4% obese. Male participants were found to be more physically active compared to females. Hypertension and diabetes were statistically significantly associated with physical activity. BMI and waist-hip ratio were found to be associated with moderate physical exercise.

Conclusion

Most of the participants were not involved in moderate physical activity. Overall, an alarming 66.6% of the participants were either overweight or obese. In general, males were found to participate more in intense physical activity.