EDUCATION

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Browsing EDUCATION by Author "ABAH, Joshua Agene"

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    RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD PRESSURE AND BODY COMPOSITION OF ACTIVE AND INACTIVE STUDENTS OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
    (2011-03) ABAH, Joshua Agene
    This study investigates the relationship between blood pressure and body composition of active and inactive students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Similar investigations especially in northern universities were very scanty. Furthermore, it was not very clear how blood pressure was affected by such factors as body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and percent body fat. To this end the hypotheses were formulated for testing. The ex-post facto research design with stratified random sampling technique was used. Thereafter, a sample of 1,297 subjects representing 5% of the targeted population was randomly selected for the study. The Omron automatic digital blood pressure monitor, a flexible measuring tape, bathroom weighing scale, stadiometre and Harpenden skinfold calliper were used to collect data on blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, body weight, height and three skinfolds from both genders respectively. While waist to hip ratio and body mass index were determined, percent body fat was calculated from total skinfolds and gender specific body density formula. The completed International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) - short version were coded and used to categorise the students into active and inactive subjects. The data were imputed into the system and was analysed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (SPSS 14 for Windows) to determine relationship between the variables. Decision to accept or reject the hypotheses was made at P ≤ 0.05 alpha level of significance. Major findings of the study revealed that: Relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressures was positively significant among the active and inactive subjects in this study; Relationship between systolic blood pressure and body mass index was positively significant among the active and inactive subjects in this study; Relationship between diastolic blood pressure and body mass index was positively significant among the active and inactive subjects in this study and Relationship between waist circumference and body mass index was positively significant among the active and inactive subjects in this study. On the basis of these findings, it was therefore recommended that since high blood pressure is a silent killer disease; adults should be encouraged to participate in at least moderate intensity physical activity three to five times per week throughout life.