Relationship between physical activity and health related anthropometric indices of university female staffs

Introduction: Physical activity is the most important factor for health related quality of life. This study aimed to determine physical activity and its association with some anthropometric characteristics of the female staffs of Islamic Azad University of Lahijan. Methods: Female staffs of Islamic Azad University of Lahijan participated in this examination for the evaluation. Physical activity of the participants was assessed with RAPA questionnaire. Then some anthropometric characteristics consisted of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) were assessed. Results: The results represented low points of physical activity levels in this group that may be the cause of progression in chronic disease related to inactivity. On the other hand about 46.6 percent of the participants were overweight or obese. WHR in this group were high (about 80% of participants' WHR were up to 0.85). There was not any significant relationship between the levels of physical activity or anthropometric indices with graduation levels (P≤0.05). Negative significant relationship was observed between BMI or WHR with physical activity (P≤0.05). There was positive and significant relationship between BMI and WHR of the participants (P≤0.05). Conclusion: These findings showed the importance of education, information and proper physical activity in escalating anthropometric characteristics of the females.