Physical fitness, body composition and quality of life in first-year medical sciences students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62059/LatArXiv.preprints.686Keywords:
Physical fitness, Body composition, Medical students, Quality of lifeAbstract
Physical fitness and body composition are key determinants of health and quality of life, and in medical students they also influence their future role as promoters of healthy habits. In Cuba, their actual status at the beginning of university education is unknown. This cross-sectional descriptive study characterized the level of basic physical abilities and the anthropometric profile of first-year students entering Medical Sciences programs, analyzing their distribution, correlations, and territorial differences. A total of 8116 first-year students (58.9 % male) from four provinces participated. Standardized physical tests (800 m, 60 m, push-ups, sit-ups) were applied, and body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Only 9.2 % achieved the Talent category, with arm strength being the most deficient ability (11.5 % in level V). Mean BMI was 25.8 kg/m² (SD=3.5), and 14.5 % presented abdominal obesity. Correlations between BMI/WC and physical performance were moderate (r between 0.29 and 0.51; p<0.001). A total of 24.1 % showed high metabolic risk. According to functional health criteria, 36.7 % had insufficient arm strength and 32.2 % had insufficient abdominal strength. Cluster analysis identified three profiles: healthy (38.2 %), moderate risk (41.5 %), and high risk (20.3 %), with significant interprovincial differences (p<0.001). It is concluded that a low-to-medium physical condition predominates, one in three students is overweight, one in four has high metabolic risk, and significant territorial gaps exist, highlighting the need for early curricular interventions.
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