Selection of active life styles by male/female healthy young medical students

Objective: To detect proportion of male and female medical students with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) and compare active life style choices selected by them. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 113 male and female medical students of 1 ^st Professional MBBS, aged 18-21 years with normal BMI((>20<23) in Department of Physiology BUMDC. BMI was calculated as a ratio of weight to square of height in meters. Subjects were weighed on a digital weighing scale in kilograms and height was measured by stadiometer. Their life style choices were detected by a questionnaire based on demographics, food choices, dietary habits and involvement in physical activity. Results: The proportion of total female students in medical college was higher 54% as compared to aggregate of males 46%.The study sample of 113 students with normal BMI; comprised of 56 males (64% of total males) and 57 females (50%of females). Healthy diet was selected by 47% females and 68% males, and 68% males and 49% females were involved in physical activity in the study group. The association with physical activity of male students was statistically significant (p value <0.03). Conclusion: Graduate entry medical students were predominantly females but normal BMI was recorded in great number of males. They although preferred fast food, but intake of plenty of fruits, vegetables, less aerated drinks, and moderate physical activity enabled them to benefit from good health as compared to females.