Evaluation of Nutritional Habits, Physical Activities and Body Compositions of Individuals Between Age of 18 And 27 by Their Body Mass Index

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical activity, nutritional habits, and body composition calculated by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, of the individuals whose Body Mass Index were below 25 kg/m2 and above 25 kg/m2. Material and Methods: 131 students (70 female, 61 male) of Bulent Ecevit University Medical Faculty, Health Sciences Faculty and Vocational School of Health Sciences were voluntarily involved in the study. Body Mass Index values were measured via Bioelectric Impedance Analysis by Tanita BC 418 and body composition values were saved. Students divided into two groups according to Body Mass Index values as below and above 25 kg/m2. Demographic Information Form, Nutrition Habits Index and International Physical Activity Questionnaire applied to all volunteers on both groups. Results: In the group with a Body Mass Index of more than 25 kg/m2, visceral fat, fat percentage ratio, core fat content, basal metabolic rate and obesity level were significantly higher, meal skipping was higher in males only, and both vitamin and mineral use were higher in females only (p<0.05). In the group with Body Mass Index less than 25 kg/m2, the rate of lean mass, protein content ratio, skelatal muscle ratio, body water ratio, lean tissue ratio, muscle ratio and bone ratio were found to be significantly higher and the mineral content was higher in females only (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant relationship between Body Mass Index and Nutrition Habits Index in male and female correlation analysis, but a positive and high correlation was found between Body Mass Index and basal metabolic rate (p<0.001; for females r=0.848, for males r=0.842). Conclusion: In our study, a significant correlation between Body Mass Index and some body composition parameters measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was found