Association of Physical Exercises with Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Pressure Among Medicals Students: A Prospective Study in Jammu

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors for the rise in cardiovascular diseases and excessive body weight among people of all ages, particularly among adults, in both developed and developing nations, according to reports. This study examines the possible associations of physical fitness with anthropometric indices and cardiovascular parameters. Methods: The present study was conducted on 200 medical students at Postgraduate Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Jammu over a period of one year from November 2019 to October 2020. Results: A total of 200 participants were enrolled in the current study, of whom 113 (56.5%) were women and 87 (43.5%) men. The study population's mean age was 21.48±3.46 years, with a range of 18 to 25 years. We observed that physical activity was significantly associated with BMI, WHR, SBP and DBP (p-value<0.0001*). Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the physical activity was significantly associated with BMI, WHR, systolic BP, and diastolic BP. The bottom line of the current study suggests that regular exercise lowers the risk of hypertension by aiding in weight management.