ANALYSIS OF LIFESTYLE BEHAVIORS OF BUCN STUDENTS WITH ALTERATIONS IN BODY MASS INDEX

Abstract

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indicator of height and weight proportion. It is a screening tool that can indicate whether a person is underweight or if they have a healthy weight, excess weight, or obesity. If a person’s BMI is outside of the healthy range, their health risks may increase significantly. Nurses being a health care practitioner is seen as role model of healthy lifestyle practices (Hensel, 2011), which has been conceptualized as being caring, trustworthy, knowledgeable, self-confident, professional, having a deep sense of self, and being a role model of wellness (Darch, Baillie, & Gillison, 2017). This study intends to gather data about nursing students with alterations in BMI and assess their lifestyle. A total of 30 respondents met the selection criteria. Appropriate statistical treatment such as frequency and distribution, weighted mean, ranking, average distribution and standard deviation were used. Results revealed that eating behavior with family and friends contributes the greatest to their current weight with an average of 2.62 below BMI and 2.75 above BMI. Results on physical activity showed an average weighted mean of 2.99 above BMI and 3.24 below BMI. Under genetic predisposition, the major medical health problems are arthritis (16.67%), asthma and hypertension (10%). Both groups (43.33%) sleep approximately 6-8 hours every day. For vices, 5 out of 30 respondents drink alcoholic beverages. It is expected that nursing students who know their present BMI will practice health lifestyle to improve their health status.

Keywords: Lifestyle behavior, Body Mass Index, Nursing students