Association of body mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness, and their correlates among female physiotherapy students in Nawabshah (original) (raw)

2019, Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association

The rising rate of obesity in adults, particularly university students, has become a global problem, affecting both developed as well as developing countries. 1,2 A recent large-scale study on university students from 22 countries found that prevalence of overweight and obesity in several regions of the world ranges from 3% to 59%. 1 The rates of overweight/obesity and underweight were particularly high in Pakistani university students. 1 In Pakistan, studies using the cutoffs for Asian population have found significantly higher rate of overweight/obesity in medical students and in the general population. 3-5 On the other hand, studies have found that one in every four female undergraduates in Pakistan is underweight. 4 , 6 Body mass index (BMI) is considered a relatively easy and commonly used measure to assess body composition. Evidence suggests that higher BMI is associated with increased incidence of cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs), decreased life expectancy, and certain types of cancers. 4,7,8 On the other hand, below-normal BMI is linked with a wide array of disorders. 8 Especially in females, it increases the risk of menstrual irregularities, weak immunity, and osteoporosis. 9 Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), also referred to as aerobic capacity, and BMI are closely associated with the risk of CMDs, all-cause mortality, and negative health outcomes. 10,12 CRF is one of the most important components of physical fitness and is defined as the "ability of the body to perform dynamic, large-muscle exercise, for prolonged periods, at moderate-to high intensity". 10 Maximum oxygen consumption, or maximal aerobic capacity (VO 2max), is considered the most widely accepted measure of functional capacity of the cardiorespiratory system, or the oxygen transport system, giving a baseline estimate of one's heart and lung capacity. 10-12 Although sophisticated laboratory equipment is required for the direct measurement of VO 2max , its most commonly