Body mass index status of occupational therapy students of Bangladesh health professions institute: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Health is the root of all happiness. Body mass index is one of the most important indicators of health status. It is the most widely used method to evaluate the nutritional status of population in clinical practices; it might have some fragility to accurately determine the nutritional status and body fat in elderly subjects. Body mass index has showed strongest correlation with continuous hypertension in both genders. Obesity and its associated morbidities are leading causes of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, anesthesia risk, menstrual abnormalities as well as some type of cancers including those of colon and breast. Body mass index describes relative weight for height, is not gender specific. Furthermore, Body mass index appears to be as strongly correlated with various metabolic and disease outcome as are these more direct measure of body fatness. Occupational Therapy students of BHPI needed to conscious about their health issues. Aim: The aim of the study to explore the body mass index status of Occupational Therapy students in Bangladesh Health Professions Institute. Methods: A quantitative cross sectional study was conducted among 200 participants (78 male and 122 female students) in Bangladesh Health Professions Institute . In this study body weight and height were measured and body mass index values were calculated. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data and data was entered and analyzed using by statistical package of social science version 26.0. Result: Total 200 students of Bangladesh Health Professions Institute were participated this study and the age range were 18-26 years. Female students were 61% and male students were 39%. It showed that 12.5% students were underweight, 60.5% normal, 21.5% overweight and 5.5% were obesity. After classified male and female, the male frequency was 11.5% underweight, 60.2% normal, 21.8% overweight, 6.5% obesity. The female frequency was 13.1%, 60.7%, 21.3% and 4.9% respectively. Conclusion: Overweight is a rising problem of male and female students. Both underweight and obesity issues are more common in female students. It was considered a serious health problem among students which need to be addressed. Key words: Body mass index, Occupational Therapy students, Bangladesh Health Professions Institute.