Vedavalli Sachithananthan
King Khalid University, KSA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Hepatol Gastroint Dis
Statement of the Problem & Objective: Smoking causes immediate and long-standing effects on exercise and physical activity. In addition to increasing the well-known risks for cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, smokers have less endurance and poor physical performance. To determine the smoking habits and its effects on physical activity levels in adolescents and early adults aged 18-23 years of King Khalid University Khamis Mushayat, KSA. Methodology: Khamis Mushayat area near Abha city has been selected for the study. In this area, King Khalid University was selected as the population. 187 female subjects 18 to 23 years from King Khalid University who smoked cigarettes and 187 females who were non-smokers were selected for the study. GPAQ (global physical activity questionnaire) was used for the survey to assess the level of physical activity. Also, data on height and weight were collected. Result: With respect to body mass index of the smokers and non-smokers, a significantly higher percent of the non-smokers (57.5%) were of normal weight, while only 28.8% of smokers had normal weight. Most of the smokers (45.9%) had the smoking habit for 2 years and less, whereas, 27.7% of the smokers smoked for 6 years or above. A significant majority of the smokers (63.2%) underwent physical activity only for 2 days and less, whereas the nonsmokers involved in physical activity for 6 days or more. Only very small percent (8.1%) of the smokers exercised for 6 or more days in a week. Among non-smokers, a minimum of 16.1% was involved in physical activity, three to five days a week. All the participants in the study had mean years of smoking of 9.75 years. We found out that smokers relatively spent less time for physical activity and were more sedentary. Conclusion & Significance: In the present study itâ??s clear that the students going to university are moderate smokers, but their physical activity level is decreased. They usually have trends towards less physical activity and less awareness regarding the ill effects of smoking.
E-mail: dr_vedavalli@yahoo.com
