Relationship between Physical Activity Level (PAL) and Body Mass Index (BMI) among adolescents (Ages 15-18)

Abstract

The study aims to investigate the relationship between the level of physical activity among adolescents (aged 15-18) and the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a universally recognized measure for distinguishing between overweight, obesity, and normal weight in individuals. The study was conducted on a sample of 20 students (both males and females) whose ages ranged from 15 to 18. These students were enrolled in the Hafar Al-Sass Mohammed Al-Eid Secondary School in the Wadi El Zenati Province, Guelma. The researcher employed a descriptive methodology for the study, using a questionnaire that addressed the types of physical activities performed by individuals in their daily lives to assess their level of physical activity. The study also relied on the Body Mass Index (BMI) as determined by IOTF standards. The study results indicated a very weak inverse relationship between the level of physical activity and the Body Mass Index for the study sample, with R = -0.14, which was not statistically significant as the Sig value (0.954) was greater than 0.05. The study also found that individuals in the sample with low levels of physical activity represented 75% of the study sample (15 students).