Performance-based Measures of Physical Function in Young Male Adults: An Association with Body Mass Index Sharma Pooja1,*, Agarwal Supriti2, Sawhney Sabina Kaur3 1Research Scholar, ABS, Noida 2Assistant Professor, ABS, Noida 3Student, AIPT, Amity University, Noida *Corresponding author: Pooja Sharma, Research Scholar, ABS, Amity University and Assistant Professor, AIPT, Amity University, Noida, Email: psharma1@amity.edu
Online published on 18 July, 2017. Abstract Background Despite increased attention to this epidemic, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise. This increasing prevalence is of great concern because the health and economic burdens of obesity are vast. Weight reduction is recommended for adults with obesity and exercise has been shown to be an important component of weight loss and weight maintenance programs. Methodology The study population consisted of college-going young sedentary male students within the age group of 20 to 30 years who met the selection criteria from colleges in Delhi and NCR with the ability to walk without an assistive device. A total of 30 subjects constituted the study. Results The difference between the mean gait speed in obese and non-obese groups (P value of less than 0.001), the difference between the mean value of timed chair rise in obese and non-obese groups (P value of less than 0.001) and the difference between the mean distance covered in the 6-minute walk test in obese and non-obese groups (P value of less than 0.001) was found to be highly significant. Conclusion The findings of the current study highlight the negative impact of obesity on the performancebased measures of physical function in apparently healthy young male adults. Physical therapists play the role of health professionals who specialize in the prescription of exercise to improve physical function and overall health status. Top Keywords Body mass index, physical function, performance based measures, obesity. Top |