Background & Aim: Stress is the body’s response to external or internal demands. University students encounter different types of psychological stressors during their academic life, and they use different mechanisms for coping. Multiple factors, including lifestyle habits, stress-related behaviours, and eating disorders, can influence changes in body mass index (BMI). Similar types of associations have been found among university students. This study aimed to determine the association between psychological stress and BMI among physiotherapy students at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 physiotherapy students at University of Colombo. Convenience sampling was used. Information on stress scores, related stressors and stress reactions was collected using the Student-life Stress Inventory, which is a validated self-administered questionnaire. Self-reported height and weight measurements were taken for this study. BMI was calculated from the height and weight of the participants and was categorised according to the standard World Health Organisation guidelines. The association between psychological stress score and BMI was analysed using the Pearson’s correlation test.Results: The sample size was 105 and consisted of 78 (74%) females. The mean age of the participants was 23.85 years (SD=1.25). The mean total stress score was 25.35 (SD=7.869). The mean BMI was 21.882 kg/m2 (SD=4.211). The self-imposed stressors were the most prevalent category of stressors (79% above the midpoint), and frustrations were the least common category of stressors among participants (64% above the midpoint). Cognitive responses were the most prevalent reactions, being 73% above the midpoint. The correlation coefficient between total stress score and BMI was 0.121 (p=0.231).Conclusions: The mean BMI of the population falls under the normal weight category. No correlations were found between psychological stress and BMI among the participants.
J. V. W. Liyanage (Tue,) studied this question.