Abstract

RELATIONSHIP OF BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND STRESS IN ADOLESCENT SCHOOL-GOING GIRLS

Subha Bose Banerjee, Gargi Koley and Kuntal Gupta*

ABSTRACT

Adolescence represents a period of transition between childhood and adulthood. According to Who adolescence as the period of life between 10-19 years of age. During this transitional stage between childhood to adulthood (henceforth referred to as adolescence), individuals undergo considerable physiological, psychosocial, and cognitive development changes Nutrition has a great influence on the growth process of an individual. Total nutrient requirements increase during adolescence, failure to consume an adequate diet at this time can disrupt normal growth and pubertal development. Energy needs for individual adolescents vary according to sex, age, body composition, pubertal development & physical activity. Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity are also associated with a number of long term negative consequences including increased risk of developing hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), arthritis, sleep apnoea, gall bladder disease, and bronchial asthma. Childhood overweight and obesity are also linked to a variety of psychological issues such as depression. Following unfavorable lifestyles that include unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity are considered as the most important risk factors, which cause childhood obesity. The rate of physical activity decreases sharply during adolescence and happens especially in girls, which causes low fitness levels. Adolescents have various stress factors such as school performance related stress, relationships, peer pressure, financial pressure or emerging adult responsibility affects the physical activity level. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index, physical activity level and stress level in the school going female adolescents.

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