BODY COMPOSITION STATUS OF THE LEBANESE UNIVERSITY  STUDENTS ACCORDING TO GENDER AND ACADEMIC SPECIALISM,  A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Fayyad F.; Dopsaj M.; Cherepov E.; Episheva A.; Cherepova I.; Sarsynbaev A.

doi:10.14529/hsm23s206

F. Fayyad Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4516-3156 fadiify@hotmail.com
M. Dopsaj University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7153-2993 milivoj.dopsaj@gmail.com
E. Cherepov South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8469-9741 cherepovea@susu.ru
A. Episheva South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3225-0373 al_05_96@mail.ru
I. Cherepova South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7427-558X cherepova.i.v@mail.ru
A. Sarsynbaev South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia sarsynbaevav@susu.ac.ru

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14529/hsm23s206

Keywords: University students, body composition, obesity, gender, specialism, lifestyle

Abstract

Aim. The purpose of the study is to identify, examine, and compare body composition status among Lebanese university students based on gender and specialization. Materials and Methods. A sample of 384 students from the Lebanese University, Faculty of Education, was studied. The sample was divided as follows: Athletic males (n = 100) and Athletic females (n = 100), non-athletic males (n = 70) and nonathletic females (n = 114). Body Composition was assessed using the method of multifrequency bioelectrical analysis. Five primary direct measures of body composition variables (BM, BH, BFM, SMM, TBW) and seven derived indirect measures (BMI, PBFM, BFMI, PSMM, SMMI, IH, MFI) were assessed. Results. All Lebanese students’ subsamples were found in normal body weight except the non-sport male students that were found overweight. Comparative results showed that the Sport specialty students had better and healthier body composition profile than their non-sport colleagues. As for gender-based classification, as expected, male students were taller and heavier than females on average in both sport and non-sport specialization categories. Conclusions: Findings support the need from educational and health authorities to develop and evaluate health-promotion and obesity-prevention programs for university communities especially for female gender and non-athletic students’ specialisms.

Author Biographies

F. Fayyad , Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon; University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

PhD in Physical Education and Sport, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, Physical Education and Sport Department, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.

M. Dopsaj , University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Full Professor, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.

E. Cherepov , South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia

Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Physical Education and Health, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia.

A. Episheva , South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia

Junior Researcher, Research Center for Sports Science; Postgraduate Student, Department of Theory and Methods of Physical Education and Sport, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia.

I. Cherepova , South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia

Postgraduate Student, Department of Theory and Methods of Physical Education and Sport, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia.

A. Sarsynbaev , South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia

Lecturer, Department of Physical Education and Health, South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russia.