Gender-Specific Relationships of Lifestyle and Physical Activity with Body Composition Among Medical Students
- 1Laboratory for Sport Medicine and Exercise Therapy, Institute of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Abstract
Background/Objectives: During their university education, medical students may develop unhealthy lifestyle behaviors during university education, including reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, and inadequate dietary habits, which may affect their body composition. This study aimed to identify demographic, lifestyle, and physical activity predictors of body composition among medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 176 undergraduate medical students from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and physical activity were assessed using the questionnaire. Body composition was measured using the InBody 370S multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Student’s t-test and chi-square test were used to assess between group differences. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed separately for males and females. Results: Most students had normal BMI (76.1%), while 15.3% were overweight and 2.8% obese. Men had higher mean BMI (24.2 ± 3.4 vs. 21.5 ± 2.5 kg/m2) and lower body fat percentage (16.6 ± 5.3% vs. 27.0 ± 6.3%) than women (p < 0.001). In males, sport participation was associated with total body water (p = 0.008) and fat-free mass (p = 0.016), while vigorous physical activity predicted protein mass (p = 0.002). In females, sport participation was associated with total body water (p = 0.029), fat-free mass (p = 0.030), protein (p = 0.020), and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.021). Conclusions: Sport participation was related to both higher total body water and fat-free mass in both males and females, and, was additionally related to higher protein and skeletal muscle mass in females.
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BibTeX
@article{maricic2026genderspecific,
title = {{Gender-Specific Relationships of Lifestyle and Physical Activity with Body Composition Among Medical Students}},
author = {Jovana Maricic and Djurdja Nikic and Aleksa Ostojic and Matija Obrenovic and Filip Nikolic and Nikola Topalovic and Milica Zekovic and Rada Jeremic and Dejan Nesic and Sanja Mazic and Marina Djelic Blagojevic},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218753},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8753},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gender-Specific Relationships of Lifestyle and Physical Activity with Body Composition Among Medical Students
AU - Jovana Maricic
AU - Djurdja Nikic
AU - Aleksa Ostojic
AU - Matija Obrenovic
AU - Filip Nikolic
AU - Nikola Topalovic
AU - Milica Zekovic
AU - Rada Jeremic
AU - Dejan Nesic
AU - Sanja Mazic
AU - Marina Djelic Blagojevic
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218753
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8753
AB - Background/Objectives: During their university education, medical students may develop unhealthy lifestyle behaviors during university education, including reduced physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, and inadequate dietary habits, which may affect their body composition. This study aimed to identify demographic, lifestyle, and physical activity predictors of body composition among medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 176 undergraduate medical students from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and physical activity were assessed using the questionnaire. Body composition was measured using the InBody 370S multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Student’s t-test and chi-square test were used to assess between group differences. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed separately for males and females. Results: Most students had normal BMI (76.1%), while 15.3% were overweight and 2.8% obese. Men had higher mean BMI (24.2 ± 3.4 vs. 21.5 ± 2.5 kg/m2) and lower body fat percentage (16.6 ± 5.3% vs. 27.0 ± 6.3%) than women (p < 0.001). In males, sport participation was associated with total body water (p = 0.008) and fat-free mass (p = 0.016), while vigorous physical activity predicted protein mass (p = 0.002). In females, sport participation was associated with total body water (p = 0.029), fat-free mass (p = 0.030), protein (p = 0.020), and skeletal muscle mass (p = 0.021). Conclusions: Sport participation was related to both higher total body water and fat-free mass in both males and females, and, was additionally related to higher protein and skeletal muscle mass in females.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -