A comparative study of the relationship between physical activity and Body Mass Index levels of first year and third year females at Cardiff Metropolitan University
Author
Power, Olivia
Date
2014Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
It is prevalent within literature that physical activity can have a direct influence on
body mass index BMI levels and that those individuals who participate in low levels
of physical activity, or spend more time sedentary, tend to have a greater BMI. The
purpose of the present study was to compare the relationship between physical
activity and BMI levels of first year and third year females at Cardiff Metropolitan
University.
The height and weight of 34 female participants aged between 18-22 years, from first
year (n=17) and third year (n=17), was measured in order to establish BMI. The
participants also completed a self-reported IPAQ, answering questions on their
weekly levels of participation in walking, moderate, vigorous and total physical
activity (MET-minutes/week) and time spent sitting (mins).
It was found that third year females had on average a lower BMI of 23 kg/m2 (± 3.67)
than the first years whom had an average BMI of 24 kg/m2 (± 2.16). Spearman’s
Correlation revealed that there were positive correlations between Time Spent Sitting
(mins) and Walking (MET-minutes/week) with r=0.360 and p<0.05, Moderate (METminutes/
week) and Total Physical Activity (MET-minutes/week) with r=0.362 and
p=<0.05 and Total Physical Activity (MET-minutes/week) and Vigorous (METminutes/
week) with r=0.864 and p=<0.05. It was also found that the overweight and
obese BMI group reported higher amounts of time spent sitting (mins) and lower
amounts of total physical activity (MET-minutes/week) than the underweight and
normal weight BMI group.
This study accepts the evidence that lower levels of physical activity and increased
time spent sedentary lead to an increase in BMI. The findings of this study suggest
that increased physical activity, particularly vigorous physical activity, can lead to a
lower BMI. Interventions are necessary, particularly within the first year of university
to encourage females to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours so that reductions in
physical activity and increases in BMI are not seen.
Description
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS)
SPORT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
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