engleski

Differences between body composition parameters in university students according to self rated health status

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate differences between poor and good self-rated health in body composition parameters. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants were 73 university students (mean age 19.52, mean height 173.09 yrs, mean weight 70.89 kg, mean body-mass index 23.40 kg/m2). Self-rated health was assessed by using single- item question: ”How would you rate your health?” with five responses: (1) very poor, (2) poor, (3) fair, (4) good and (5) excellent. We categorized the outcome on “poor” health (responses very poor and poor) and “good” (responses fair, good and excellent). Body composition parameters were assessed by using bioelectric impedance analysis. Differences between groups were analyzed by using Student t-test and Man-Whitney U-test. Significance was set up at p<0.05. Results: Roughly, 38% of participants reported having poor health. Group reporting poor health had higher % of fat-mass (p<0.001), visceral fat (p<0.001) and body-mass index (p<0.001). Group with good health had higher values in % fat-free mass (p<0.001), but not in blood pressure and heart rate (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that participants who reported having poor self-rated heath had higher values in non-healthy body composition parameters compared with those reporting good health. Special strategies and policies that leverage healthy lifestyle, such as more physical activity balanced diet should be implemented within the university school system, in order to improve health and body composition status.

young adults, body composition, health, differences

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