Impacts of lifestyle habits on BMI of students from Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the lifestyle habits of students at a federal educational institute in Mato Grosso, Brazil and to verify whether these habits could be related to the Body Mass Index (BMI). This is a retrospective, cross-sectional descriptive study. Biomedical assessment data obtained by the Nursing Service carried out on technical and integrated education students with high school and bachelor's degrees will be analyzed, in the period between February 2022 and February 2023 with 203 participants. Most female students were in the thin category, while half of the male students were in the severely obese category. Students who had difficulty sleeping had a higher BMI than those who did not have difficulty. Furthermore, the use of social networks as the main purpose of using the internet is also associated with high BMIs. Difficulty of sleeping causes endocrine changes responsible for food control, increasing appetite. The predominance of obesity in males and thinness in females can be explained by women's greater concern with their appearance and health. This study underscores the importance of an integrated approach to health promotion, which includes regular physical activity, good sleep quality, and balanced management of technology use.