Relationship between physical activity and the incidence of overweight and obesity in nursing students

Introduction: Overweight and obesity remain major public health issues closely associated with insufficient physical activity. Globally, their prevalence among university students ranges from 20% to over 35%, with Indonesian studies reporting 23%–30%. This population is vulnerable due to sedentary learning environments, limited exercise opportunities, frequent fast-food consumption, and low fruit and vegetable intake.Objectives: To examine the association between physical activity and overweight/ obesity among nursing students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 nursing students at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang, selected purposively from 605 students. Inclusion criteria were willingness to participate, cooperative attitude, and a Body Mass Index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range. Data were collected from November to December 2024. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and BMI classification followed WHO criteria. Data were analysed using Spearman’s correlation test. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Commission, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Muhammadiyah Malang (No: E.4.d/094/KEPK/ FIKES-UMM/X/2024).Results: Among the participants, 20 were obese and 30 were overweight. Most respondents (54%) reported moderate levels of physical activity. Statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between physical activity levels and overweight or obesity (p = 0.931).Conclusions: Physical activity was not significantly associated with overweight or obesity in nursing students, indicating other determinants such as diet and lifestyle may have greater influence. Integrating nutrition education, behaviour change strategies, and lifestyle management into nursing curricula and public health interventions is recommended to address weight-related health risks.